Former coach expected Falconets win

Former Super Falcons' coach,
Eucharia Uche said she expected
Falconets' win over Mexico in the
quarterfinal of the Fifa Under20
Women's World Cup in Tokyo,
Japan.
The Mexicans stretched Nigeria,
losing finalists in Germany two
years ago, to the fullest before
forward, Desire Oparanozie's
header in the 109th minute
sealed victory for the Falconets.
Uche said she was never in
doubt that Falconets will survive
the Latin Americans doggedness
in the nail-biting match.
"The victory was expected given
the calibre of players in the
Falconets squad.
"I was never shaken in my faith
that victory will come the way of
the Nigerians even if the game
had gone into penalties
shootout.
"Virtually all the players in the
present Falconets have played
at the world stage prior to the
competition, they've seen it all,
tested and experienced.
"I'm expecting the trophy,
anything short of the trophy
would be a huge disappointment.
"No team at the Under20 cadre
at present in Japan should
trouble them, they have what it
takes to fend off any
opposition," the former Nigerian
player told supersport.com.
The Bayelsa Queens' coach,
however, will want the Falconets
to try taking their chances in
future games.
"They created many chances in
the game against Mexico but
hardly used them. They should
strive to convert their chances
at goal in order games to avoid
unnecessarily stretching the
game into extra time and
penalty shootout.
"Though I'm confident of victory
even if the next matches go into
penalty shootout.
"No other team parade as many
experienced players at the
ongoing World Cup in Japan as
the Nigerian side.
"Nigeria has the edge over USA
or Korea DPR in the semifinals.
It's not names but the quality of
players in each team," said the
former Ufuoma Babes finisher.