TVC E. Coach of the Falconets, Peter Dedevbo has vowed that his players will bounce back from their heavy 6-0 defeat to Japan in the opening game of the 2016 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.
The Falconets were totally dominated by their Japanese counterparts on Sunday, November 13 but Dedevbo insists that the World Cup is not over for the Falconets.
“We are down, but not out and this is the time for us to fight till the end of the competition. It would be foolhardy for us to start feeling sorry for ourselves because it will affect our focus for the remaining games in the tournament,” the coach is quoted to say by Sun Newspaper.
“I must acknowledge the fact that the Japanese side was good, though I didn’t envisage the goal margin. The outcome means that we will return to the trenches and re-strategize.”
Further speaking, Falconets defender, Glory Ogbonna says she and her teammates will try and get maximum points from their two other group games to revive their World Cup campaign.
“Collectively as a team, we have accepted the fact that we started badly against Japan, but it doesn’t mean that we have given up because all hope is not lost,” she said.
“I believe that the reason for Sunday’s defeat was a clarion call for us as a team to wake up to the harsh realities on ground. If we had won or drawn that game, apparently, the whole team would feel that we have arrived.
“Canada is a must-win for us and it is not negotiable. We have learnt our lessons in a bitter and humiliating way. I want to promise all Nigerians that we must redeem our image and march on in this tournament.”
Nigeria will face Canada who also lost their opening game 5-0 to Spain.
