Former Super Falcons’ striker Gift Okunwa-Igunbor has hailed the progress she is seeing so far in the Nigerian women’s national team but interjected that the squad still needs more blending in order to play together as a strong unit.
Sports247 reports that Okunwa-Igunbor was delighted with what she saw of the Falcons during last week’s 2-0 friendly victory over Cameroon at MKO Abiola Sports Complex in Abeokuta, but stressed that there is still a need for better synergy between the home-based players and those from abroad.
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The former top striker opined, “They are still going to have some friendly matches to play, and I think they are already working towards that; in order to improve blending in the team.”
She went on to further assess the team’s performance during the friendly against Cameroon and, with less than a month left before they line out for the African Women’s Cup of Nations in Morocco, Okunwa-Igunbor reckoned that more work is needed to put the squad into proper shape.
Okunwa-Igunbor added: “There were some home-based players that were merged with the professionals that came from Europe and America. Some of the home-based just concluded the Super-6 while most of those who are in Europe and America have finished their leagues. They are still intact. So, it’s just for the team to blend together and play as a unit. That’s just what is left now.”
Okunwa-Igunbor concluded by pointing out that the players and coaches are already working hard towards the 2025 AWCON, with the level of team spirit also high, which she said gives her more confidence about their chances of doing well.
“From the friendly match they played against Cameroon, there’s a sign of great team spirit and a lot of hard work in them,” Okunwa-Igunbor enthused while looking ahead expectantly at the AWCON’s kick-off date on July 5th.
Sports247 can further report that the Falcons, who have another build-up friendly away to Portugal on June 23rd in Lisbon, will play Tunisia in their first group game of this year’s AWCON on July 6th, after which they will battle Botswana and Algeria
