Mabo warns Falconets over Congo

Former Super Falcons coach, Ismaila Mabo

After their 2-1 defeat of their Congolese counterparts in the 2016 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup qualifier on September 27 in Kinshasa, former Super Falcons coach, Ismaila Mabo, has warned the Falconets not to be over-confident ahead of the return fixture.

Nigeria will host Congo this weekend as they seek to qualify for the tournament, which will hold in Papua New Guinea.

Goals from Chinwendu Ihezuo and Chinasa Uchendu gave the coach Peter Dedevbo-led side the advantage from the first leg but Mabo said the team need to tread cautiously to avoid losing the match on home soil.

ADVERTISEMENT

“The Falconets are a good team presently in Africa,” Mabo told our correspondent on the telephone.

“Every team in Africa now wants to beat any Nigerian team. From the Falcons to the Falconets and even the Flamingoes, other countries have discovered that Nigeria can be beaten.

“What the Falconets need to do to enable them to qualify for the next stage is to ensure they are consistent in their performances.”

Mabo, who led the Falcons to the quarterfinals of the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup, added that Dedevbo should ensure that the players play to instruction.

He said, “Falconets’ coach (Dedevbo) is experienced at this level. He has led the team to many victories but this one is important given the slim lead in the first leg.

“He should talk to the players and advise them to play to instructions. The Congolese will want to play harder to get some goals here but I believe Nigeria will beat them.”

Falconets defeated Liberia 14-1 on aggregate to book a meeting with Congo. They are the runners-up of the tournament after they were beaten by Germany in the final in Canada in 2014.