Ex-international female star, Maureen Mmadu has expressed a view that the current set of players in the Super Falcons know how crucial it is for them to pick the 2024 Olympic Games ticket.
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With that view top of her mind, Mmadu has backed Nigeria’s women’s national team to go all out for victory against their eternal rivals, South Africa, this Friday in Abuja.
The clash at Moshood Abiola National Stadium is the first leg of their final qualifier for the women’s football event of Paris 2024 Olympics and Mmadu opined that the Nigerian players will give their game against the current African champions all seriousness it deserves.
Although many observers are critical of the unfolding situation of late arrivals in camp by many of the Falcons’ players, Mmadu parried such fears and put it down to constraints with their club.
Rather than buy a suggestion that the players are showing unserious attitude, she stressed that Nigerians should count on the lasses to make them proud.
She recalled facing similar challenges during her playing days, as her club would always hold her back and only allow her leave for national assignments at the last moment.
The former midfield battler, who is now a youth development and gender equality ambassador, urged Nigerians to have trust in the Falcons as a bunch of professionals who know what to do when the chips are down, especially after missing the last two editions of the Olympics.
Mmadu declared at length, “It’s not that they are not serious, but it’s their clubs that are holding them back.
“Remember that most of the players are foreign-based professionals, and their clubs may not allow them to come home early.
“I remember how it was with me and my club when I was in the national team. They normally wouldn’t want to allow me go, except I first finished playing their matches … because I was very important in their team.
“The same applies to these players in the current Super Falcons. Those players that do not come early to the national camp are important in their clubs, which is also a plus for Nigeria.
“It’s not that they are not serious about the national team. They must first be committed to their clubs before they can be allowed to travel to Nigeria.
“They also need to give everything they have to play for Nigeria now, especially for the Olympics. They have not been there for many years.
“They should know that the task ahead of them is very strong. That is why I believe they will be coming to camp with everything and show that they are indeed serious about the task.”
Mmadu concluded by calling on the Falcons’ players to prove her right and make her proud by going all out to get the Paris 2024 ticket ahead of South Africa.
