By Eddie Akalonu

Super Falcons head coach, Edwin Okon says he is keenly following the performance of the national U-20 women team, the Falconets in the on-going FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Canada for two main reasons. It is his prayer that they go far enough in the competition, even to the final so that the girls would gain experience meeting teams from different parts of the world and their approach.

More importantly, the sweat merchant added that he is on the look out for outstanding members of the team who are likely to be called up to the senior national team. “I commend them,” he said, “and it is my prayer that they will continue to do well, to get the exposure and experience and them come back to inject this into our game.”
The Falconets Wednesday fired up to seven points and topped their group after beating England 2-1 in the last Group-C tie in Edmonton, That victory also won them a place in the quarter finals. They will now take up New Zealand today in Moncton. They had earlier battled Mexico to a 1-1 draw and piped Korea Republic 2-1.

Okon, whose Falcons side are yet to get into camp in readiness for the African Women Championship in Namibia later in the year said, “I am following all of their matches because those who perform exceptionally will be invited to the senior team for continental and global competitions ahead.
“We will continue to monitor their progress and it is my hope they continue the momentum, move higher and higher. It will help the morale of players and help me plan a stronger national team.”

With the African Women Championship cup holders, Equatorial Guinea out of the competition this year, the Super Falcons are favourites to win a record seventh title in Namibia in October. Nigeria are winners in 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006 and 2010.