By Saheed Afolabi
Nigeria U20 head coach, Christopher Danjuma has targeted players improvement as they prepare for their final phase of the African U20 FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifiers.
The Falconets edged past Tazania 2-1 in Abuja to set up a next round opponent against another East Africans, Burundi after a first leg 1-1 draw in Dar es Salaam a week ago.
Danjuma admitted the Tazanians were a difficult nut to crack despite winning the game by a slim margin.
“The experienced tactician revealed how the players readjusted and changed tactics during the game to grind out a positive impact,” Danjuma told the Press.
“The game was actually going to be a tough one because when you play against an opponent that have so much respect for you, and you are not able to outwit them at the first meeting, you should expect a stronger challenge, so we braced ourselves mentally and it’s not short of expectations of knowing what we wanted to meet.
“Football is a game of momentum, your players get into a faze and they try to find their feets back and it’s not a moment of struggling but a moment of readjusting and playing according to the rhythm and getting what you want out of it.
“I think it’s just an issue if sensitization especially from you guys, if you make jingles and noise the same way you make about other teams, I think people will fill the stadium.”
As they square up against East African team in January, the Nasarawa Amazons gaffer insists the paramount aim of the team is sealing a place at the U20 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Colombia.
“The aim is to qualify for Colombia, that is it,” Danjuma told media.
“We knew a lot about the Tazanians but haven’t met them physically, you know, you can have some things about a team on paper but when you come to the game, things might change.
“So we had a physical test of who they are and know what we are going to expect and that’s what the whole thing that changes everything.
“I think, I have a standard and philosophy of coaching, we are going to improve in all aspects of the game.”
The Falconets will face Burundi in the final round of the U20 FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifiers.
