Head coach of the Benin Republic women’s national team, Abdoulaye Ouzerou, has described his side’s clash against the Super Falcons of Nigeria as a valuable learning opportunity for his young squad, emphasizing that his players are still in the developmental stage.
Speaking ahead of the return leg of the WAFCON qualifiers, Ouzerou noted that his team is in a rebuilding phase, blending youthful talent from the U-17 and U-20 categories into the senior setup.
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“We have a very young team — eight players from the U-17 and six from the U-20 — and we’re coming into the game with a different plan,” Ouzerou said. “We can’t compare our players with the Super Falcons. They are an experienced side with a winning mentality, while we are still working on developing and rebuilding our team.”
Reflecting on the first leg encounter, which Nigeria won 2–0, the Benin coach expressed satisfaction with his team’s fighting spirit despite the defeat.
“We had about three opportunities to score, but we couldn’t take them, while the Super Falcons had five and scored two. The girls are still learning. They are not used to playing in such a charged atmosphere,” he explained.
Ouzerou acknowledged Nigeria’s pedigree, noting that the Falcons’ mindset after winning the WAFCON title remains focused on maintaining their dominance in Africa.
“When the Super Falcons play, their mindset is to win — that’s what champions do. We know they’ll want to make their fans happy after winning the WAFCON. For us, the target is to keep improving and hopefully qualify for the next WAFCON.”
Despite the gulf in experience between both teams, the coach maintained that his players are under no pressure and will use the match as a stepping stone for growth.
“If we don’t win against Nigeria, it’s still a chance to learn a lot from them. The girls are young, they are not under pressure — this is part of their development journey,” Ouzerou concluded.
The Benin women’s national team will face the Super Falcons again in the decisive second leg of their WAFCON qualifying tie, as they continue their quest to secure a first-ever appearance at the continental showpiece.
