Nigerian women national team, Super Falcons’ former coach, Kadiri Ikhana, has waved off any likely threat from South Africa during this Friday’s 2024 Olympic Games qualifier in Abuja.
While many observers are apprehensive of what the current African champions will roll out on the pitch of Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, especially as they arrived almost a week to the game, Ikhana Insists the visitors’ antics will backfire.
The former African coach of the year, following his conquest of the CAF Champions League with Enyimba FC of Aba, opined that Banyana’s approach to acclimatisation was wrong and concluded that it will work against them.
He further affirmed that the quality of players on offer in the Falcons and the depth of their technical crew will make a world of difference in Friday’s match, which is the first leg of their final qualifier for Paris 2024 Olympics.
Ikhana, who also won the African Women Cup of Nations for Nigeria, theorised thus: “My experience in continental games has shown that you can not acclimatise within one week. It is not possible.
“Acclimatisation takes place within two to four weeks like that. So, for them to have come here a week before the game, in a bid to acclimatise, I think it’s wrong.
“Also, I believe we have a better show when playing against South Africa. We have an advantage against them, because we have good players, we have a good team, we train well, and things like that.”
Ikhana concluded by emphasising that he will not support any thought of Banyana upsetting the Falcons in Abuja, and he stressed: “I don’t believe they are a threat to us. I don’t think so.”
