Eucharia urges Falconets to beat S’Africa

Falconets

Former Super Falcons defender, Eucharia Uche, has urged the Falconets to go for victory in their return leg Papua New Guinea 2016 FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup qualifier against South Africa in Makhulong Stadium in Tembisa, South Africa on Sunday.

Nigeria beat South Africa 2-1 in the first leg in Abuja. The overall winners of the two-legged fixture will qualify for Papua New Guinea 2016.

Uche told our correspondent on the telephone on Thursday that the Falconets should convert the chances that come their way to beat the Basetsana in the encounter.

“South Africa are a strong team in women’s football on the continent. They are fast catching up with Nigeria and we need to realise that,” the ex-Falcons manager said.

“That fact was evident in the way they played against Nigeria in the first leg. Although the Falconets did not play as if they underrated the South Africans, they did not play well.

“To qualify for next year’s World Cup, they need to play well. They should create and convert more chances and defend better. Their defenders need to avoid silly mistakes and not give away free-kicks and penalties when not needed.

“They will be a little under pressure because the South Africans can easily come back with the slim lead Nigeria have.”

Nigeria have qualified for every edition of the Under-20 World Cup since its inception in 2002.

Meanwhile, Falconets coach, Peter Dedevbo, has said his girls are ready for the match.

“We wanted to win big in the first leg, but it didn’t happen. Sunday is another day to look for a big win. The fact that we are playing away from home matters little to us,” he told thenff.com.

“Papua New Guinea is a destination for the Falconets next year. Nigeria has never missed any FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup and we will not start now.

“We will play with our hearts, with confidence and discipline. We have forgotten entirely about the first leg result, because we know we have to win in South Africa.”