Nigeria’s female national team, Falconets’ coach, Moses Aduku has described players in his current squad as ‘the transition’ that will revive the country’s fading glory in the round leather game, which was heightened in their failure to reach the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Sports247 reports that, while the Super Falcons fumbled at this year’s Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON 2026) and they will miss the World Cup for the first time ever next year in Brazil, Aduku’s team is excelling at the Female Youth Mundial in Poland.
The scoring exploits of Seimenya Janet Akekoromowei, Winner Onajite David, Ramotalahi Kareem, Rebecca Adegbemile, Mary Mamudu and Tosin Rafiu have left many mouths agape, along with the wonderful saves of team captain and goalkeeper, Christiana Uzoma.
Aduku was grinning from ear-to-ear after his side dismantled England 3-0 in Thursday’s round of 16 clash, a result that set them up for a quarter-finals’ fixture against Colombia this Sunday, heading into which the ex-youth international declared that more is in store.
He will once again count on Uzoma’s wonderful saves, which included stopping Rachel Maltby’s penalty, as well as two goal heroines, David and Kareem, plus two apiece from Akekoromowei, Rafiu and Adegbemile, all of whom he tagged stars of the future.
While admitting that the Falcons’ inability to reach Brazil 2027 is a huge setback for Nigeria, Aduku, who also coached Edo Queens of Benin City in winning this year’s domestic women’s league, projected his Falconets into the next five years as a revival route.
He averred that many of his rookies who are currently excelling in Poland will be the ones to bail Nigeria out by ensuring the country qualifies for the 2031 Senior Female Mundial, with more exploits along the way – like the one they pulled off against England in Bielsko-Biala.
The Falconets dominated from start to finish, boosted by Tosin Rafiu’s brilliant opener, Christiana Uzoma pulling off a mouth-gaping penalty save, as well as further efforts from Akekoromowei and Mary Mamudu showing that they all hold the key to a brighter future.
“We are building a foundation for the future. The next World Cup, they should be expecting us. The reason why we are here is to take the Cup home. We are going to give our all. Our coach pushes us and we push ourselves on and off the pitch.
“We stay focused and determined,” said Akekoromowei, who emerged as Player of the Match against England, following which her futuristic verdict was echoed by Uzoma, who made many outstanding saves during Thursday’s game.
“We hope to get to the final (and) win the World Cup. Our performance was good. We told ourselves that we are not going to lose this game and we don’t want to go home early. We came with determination,” Uzoma added.
Aduku concluded by pointedly stating that he expects many players in his squad to push for shirts in the senior national team and the dark-skinned former midfielder asserted: “I think the girls are doing well (but) we need to do more.
“There is going to be a transition to the senior national team from this junior side. (That’s why I keep telling them that) they really need to apply themselves, this is just the platform. That is the mentality I put in them.”
