Former Super Falcons coach, Ismaila Mabo, says beating South Africa in today’s semi-final clash of the AWC in Equatorial Guinea will be tough but he’s sure Nigeria will emerge winners. He spoke with BAMIDELE BOLUWAJI
You must have been very impressed with the Super Falcons performance at the 2012 African Women’s Championship in Equatorial Guinea...
Yes, I am really impressed and happy with what the players have done so far. With what they have done in the first round of the tournament, they have shown that they have something encouraging to offer in the tournament.
The Super Falcons will play South Africa in the semi- final stage coming up in Bata, how do you think the team should approach the match?
The players need to be very technical in the match and remain focused because my experience with South Africans over the years has proved that they are not always an easy team to beat. They may not be very technical like our team, but they are fast and dangerous on the ball. I remember in 2003 when we played them in one of the Olympic Games qualifiers in Pretoria, we were leading them 2-0 before they leveled up the game. We thought we had everything in our hands until they fought back to secure a 2-2 result. So South Africans are a team that must be handled with all seriousness. It is one of the obstacles the team must cross if they want to go beyond the semi-final stage.
But do you see the South Africans causing any upset in that match?
Football is really difficult to predict these days because many African countries are showing interest in the game, but for South Africa, I will say there is no cause for alarm. But our players must be well focused and show determination to win. The match will definitely be tough but I don’t see them beating the Super Falcons. We have players who are highly experienced in the game, they have been there for quite some time now and I don’t see them losing to South Africa in the match.
From what you have seen of the South Africans in the first round of the tournament in Equatorial Guinea, how would you rate the team?
Well, they have been doing well because it is not easy to make it to the semi -final stage without playing well. And that is the more reason why they should not be underrated in the match. By my own rating, they have not done badly.
What motivation do you think the Super Falcons need to win the semi- final match against South Africa?
They need all the motivation they can get, though the team has been motivated by the FA, but now that they are in the semi-final stage, the FA can still do more so that the players will be willing to go out and give their very best in the encounter.
What are your expectations from the encounter?
My expectation is for our players to win the match. And in doing this, the coaches should make the players to understand the importance of that match even before they step onto the pitch at all.
How will you analyse the Super Falcons in their first round matches in the tournament?
They started well against Cameroun who have been our major enemy in women’s football. Beating them 2-1 in the opening game really gave our players some confidence against Ethiopia in the second game. And the last game which gave us the semi-final ticket was not also easy. Cote d’ Ivoire are gradually coming up, they have good players and for our girls to have beaten them 3-1 in the last qualifying game, it means they have done so well but they need to do more because the tournament is now at a very crucial stage and it is only the best teams that will make it to the final.
Aside the Super Falcons, which other team have also impressed you in the tournament so far?
Cameroun has really impressed me, but I don’t see them as a better side than our team because there have been lots of improvement in the current squad and all the players are doing well.
You have said it before that you were confident that the Super Falcons will win the tournament; do you still have that level of confidence in them?
Yes, I said so based on what I saw in the team and I will still repeat it that the team has what it takes to win the Championship. All they need is full support from the FA and the entire nation so that they can defend their title.
Let’s talk about Perpetua Nkwocha who has been part of the team for a long time, what would you say about her?
Nkwocha has been one of the best players we have in the team- highly experienced and dedicated. I am really happy that she is still doing well and I will like to advice the young ones to learn from her dedication and commitment to the nation. I was told recently that she will go on retirement after the Championship, and I think she has done enough to deserve a befitting retirement.
She has also set a 15-goal target at the on-going AWC, do you think she can make it?
She can make it because she knows her personal ability and what she can do. She has done it before, so we should all support her to do it again. For a CAF African Women’s Footballer of the Year to be a Nigerian and in our rank, she deserves nothing less than our full support.”
Then how would you describe Coach Kadiri Ikhana’s style of coaching?
He is the best for now and he has proved it. He will definitely do his best to raise the standard of women’s football in Nigeria.
Finally, what is your message to the team?
My message is that they should be patient, focused, disciplined, determined and committed to the cause of winning the title in Equatorial Guinea.
You must have been very impressed with the Super Falcons performance at the 2012 African Women’s Championship in Equatorial Guinea...
Yes, I am really impressed and happy with what the players have done so far. With what they have done in the first round of the tournament, they have shown that they have something encouraging to offer in the tournament.
The Super Falcons will play South Africa in the semi- final stage coming up in Bata, how do you think the team should approach the match?
The players need to be very technical in the match and remain focused because my experience with South Africans over the years has proved that they are not always an easy team to beat. They may not be very technical like our team, but they are fast and dangerous on the ball. I remember in 2003 when we played them in one of the Olympic Games qualifiers in Pretoria, we were leading them 2-0 before they leveled up the game. We thought we had everything in our hands until they fought back to secure a 2-2 result. So South Africans are a team that must be handled with all seriousness. It is one of the obstacles the team must cross if they want to go beyond the semi-final stage.
But do you see the South Africans causing any upset in that match?
Football is really difficult to predict these days because many African countries are showing interest in the game, but for South Africa, I will say there is no cause for alarm. But our players must be well focused and show determination to win. The match will definitely be tough but I don’t see them beating the Super Falcons. We have players who are highly experienced in the game, they have been there for quite some time now and I don’t see them losing to South Africa in the match.
From what you have seen of the South Africans in the first round of the tournament in Equatorial Guinea, how would you rate the team?
Well, they have been doing well because it is not easy to make it to the semi -final stage without playing well. And that is the more reason why they should not be underrated in the match. By my own rating, they have not done badly.
What motivation do you think the Super Falcons need to win the semi- final match against South Africa?
They need all the motivation they can get, though the team has been motivated by the FA, but now that they are in the semi-final stage, the FA can still do more so that the players will be willing to go out and give their very best in the encounter.
What are your expectations from the encounter?
My expectation is for our players to win the match. And in doing this, the coaches should make the players to understand the importance of that match even before they step onto the pitch at all.
How will you analyse the Super Falcons in their first round matches in the tournament?
They started well against Cameroun who have been our major enemy in women’s football. Beating them 2-1 in the opening game really gave our players some confidence against Ethiopia in the second game. And the last game which gave us the semi-final ticket was not also easy. Cote d’ Ivoire are gradually coming up, they have good players and for our girls to have beaten them 3-1 in the last qualifying game, it means they have done so well but they need to do more because the tournament is now at a very crucial stage and it is only the best teams that will make it to the final.
Aside the Super Falcons, which other team have also impressed you in the tournament so far?
Cameroun has really impressed me, but I don’t see them as a better side than our team because there have been lots of improvement in the current squad and all the players are doing well.
You have said it before that you were confident that the Super Falcons will win the tournament; do you still have that level of confidence in them?
Yes, I said so based on what I saw in the team and I will still repeat it that the team has what it takes to win the Championship. All they need is full support from the FA and the entire nation so that they can defend their title.
Let’s talk about Perpetua Nkwocha who has been part of the team for a long time, what would you say about her?
Nkwocha has been one of the best players we have in the team- highly experienced and dedicated. I am really happy that she is still doing well and I will like to advice the young ones to learn from her dedication and commitment to the nation. I was told recently that she will go on retirement after the Championship, and I think she has done enough to deserve a befitting retirement.
She has also set a 15-goal target at the on-going AWC, do you think she can make it?
She can make it because she knows her personal ability and what she can do. She has done it before, so we should all support her to do it again. For a CAF African Women’s Footballer of the Year to be a Nigerian and in our rank, she deserves nothing less than our full support.”
Then how would you describe Coach Kadiri Ikhana’s style of coaching?
He is the best for now and he has proved it. He will definitely do his best to raise the standard of women’s football in Nigeria.
Finally, what is your message to the team?
My message is that they should be patient, focused, disciplined, determined and committed to the cause of winning the title in Equatorial Guinea.
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