Can Coach Justine Madugu Deliver the Goods Again at the Wafcon?

I can actually affirm - based on what I observed from recent low-key, low-budget, low-frills friendlies - that the habile Super Falcons look credibly hungry, heedful and hardened to retain their Wafcon crown and confine pretenders to the bin of disappointment at the tournament.

I am disappointed that we are not seeing fresher faces being floated into the Falcons. Instead, we have this revolving door of recycling tried and tested but tired and trite players who have served their motherland exceptionally well but are now long-in-the-tooth and, quite frankly, are overstaying their welcome in the team.

Exceptionally high-quality Super Falcons Spring Chickens are waiting to be hatched after some of them recently won the Golden Boot in the Nigeria Women Football League, whilst others are winning the Turkish Women's League and others, pulling up footballing trees in the USA and European leagues.

But I bow to the superior, albeit questionable, judgement of Justine Madugu, more so if his team selection helps him meet the twin-target of qualifying for the World Cup and defending their trophy.

"Our priority will first be to ensure that we make it to the World Cup. The second goal will be to defend the trophy and bring it back to Nigeria,” Madugu told CAFonline.

It is undeniable: the Super Falcons have a forecastle of fabulous forwards, a monumental medley of marvellous midfielders and a deft domain of dominant defenders who are all ready to move heaven and earth to reacquaint the Wafcon trophy with the forewalls of the Aso Rock in Abuja whilst reacquainting their boots with the grass of World Cup stadiums next year.

Only a monumental downturn in fortune can stop them; only a very poor approach to player selection can (potentially) derail them.