International Football
MY PRIORITY IS WORLD CUP, NOT AWCON, SAYS FALCONS’ COACH, DENNERBY
Nigeria coach Thomas Dennerby talks up Super Falcons’ chances ahead of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations Ghana 2018. The Nigerian sides have won eight of the previous editions making them the most successful side in the history of the biennial championship.
Below are excerpts of the interview conducted by CAF with Dennerby;
CAFOnline.com: You are the second expatriate to coach the Super Falcons after Dutchman Jo Bonfrere, how easy for you to leave your comfort zone in Europe and come to Africa?
Thomas Dennerby: No problems at all. I have been in this business for a long time (since 1989) and I’m aware of all the challenges that can show up. You need to be experienced to live in another culture and handle some issues you do not normally do.
How do you rate the performance of your team in the qualifier against Gambia last June?
First of all, our defending was outstanding, and they (Gambia) had only one scoring chance against us over the two games, which was very good for us. The team really worked hard to stay compact and follow the match plan. Our attacking play was also good. I think we had more than 15 attempts in each game. The difference between the first leg and the second leg was that we were sharper when finishing in the second leg.
What are your thoughts about your opponents in Group B?
We have three good teams in the group. I have a good idea about the South African team. Honestly, I don’t have a good picture of Kenya and Zambia but we can go into the three matches with our good plans and organisation. We have to train well for the matches because we have not got a game since we played against the Gambia in our last qualification match. First we start with South Africa, a really tough game because we know that South Africa has played about seven games this year and have prepared very well and have improved. Kenya and Zambia are also improving their teams and are trying to come closer to Nigeria. Everyone is concerned about Nigeria; it is natural but we believe we can handle it. I think it will really be tough games and it is important not to underestimate any opponent and perform well in every game.
How will you assess your preparations ahead of the AWCON in Ghana?
So far we have a really good accommodation (the team is camped at the pristine Jubilee Chalets located in Epe suburb of Lagos State); we have good food and the pitch is okay and the training is okay. During the weekend, we had to let some players go and play for their clubs in the league but not everybody, so we are doing well. The foreign-based players have joined so we have two good weeks to plan and work very well before we arrive in Ghana for the AWCON.
With your experience over the years, what do you hope to achieve at the AWCON in Ghana since this is going to be your first major tournament with the team?
I have been to two World Cups; two European championships and Olympic Games with Sweden’s women national team, so I have the experience when it comes to big tournaments on how to work and how to show up. You must have plans for every possibility because sometimes you start well but finished badly or sometimes you could start badly and ended well. We have to make the players relax and focus on the next game without putting them under unnecessary pressure. Of course, we have 11 players on the field at a time and what should be the responsibility of each player is how to make my team better from my position. They just have to be relaxed to do their jobs and trust their teammates. There won’t be any problem if they have such attitude and mentality at the tournament.
What will be your ambition in Ghana?
Our ambition is to win the tournament but importantly to secure our ticket to the 2019 World Cup in France. Of course, we know it is never going to be easy because there is a big improvement from many teams; so it is important to have preparation if you want to win games.
From your interaction with the players, who will be your key players in Ghana?
Honestly, after the two games against Gambia, I think Amarachi Okonkwo was good. But we have talents in our team both in defence and the forwards. There is Asisat Oshoala and Desire Oparanozie and they both combined to score six goals against Gambia. They have to be in good form if they want to be successful in Ghana and we also have some young players knocking on the door and I hope this tournament will bring out some other stars.
What is your coaching philosophy?
I’m two-way minded. First of all, when you talk about defending it has to be very strict, because you absolutely have to know that you need to do and when to do it [when your team is moving you need to know; when we move the ball and where you need to be or how to press or adjust. of course, when it comes to attacking we need to get five or six different options in training so that we know when to move a particular way. When it comes to attack, we want the creativity of the individual players to show because they have to take the decisions on the field and decide which is the best option since I can’t do that from the bench.
Are you under any form of pressure going into this championship because everybody expects Super Falcons to win?
There is always pressure on the head coach and you have to live with that. I am 59 years now but I am lucky to have experience from two world cups, two Olympics, two European championships and as head coach for so many clubs as well as playing in the Champions League. I have won a lot and I know my own feelings; what can I do for the team before the game, during the game and so forth? But we can just focus on our jobs and not speculate too much; I think we are going to have a good tournament in Ghana.
Aliou Cisse has been named coach of the Angola national team, the country’s football federation (FAF) announced on Thursday, 24 hours after the Senegalese left his post in Libya.
The 50-year-old coach, who led Senegal to their maiden Africa Cup of Nations title in 2022, ended his short stint with the Libyan national team on Wednesday, after taking charge in March 2025.
“Welcome, Aliou Cisse, head coach of the Angola national team,” the FAF said on Facebook. Angola, which failed to reach this year’s World Cup, will start their 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign in September.
-Reuters
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Nigeria’s Super Eagles were held to a 2-2 draw by FIFA World Cup-bound Jordan in an eventful international friendly in Antalya on Tuesday night, with the contest overshadowed by a late red card to Alex Iwobi.
Iwobi, making his 98th appearance for the national team, was sent off in the closing stages, capping a dramatic encounter in which Nigeria surrendered a first-half lead and finished the game with ten men.
The match, played at the Mardan Sports Complex, brought Nigeria’s March international window to a close, but it proved anything but routine as both sides delivered a fiercely contested and entertaining clash.
Jordan, ranked 64th in the world and enjoying strong recent form, struck first in the 17th minute through Mousa Tamari. A well-worked free-kick routine caught the Nigerian defence napping, allowing the forward to fire home the opener.
Nigeria responded quickly and thought they had equalised six minutes later when Raphael Onyedika finished from a Moses Simon cut-back, but the goal was controversially ruled out.
The Super Eagles eventually drew level in the 30th minute. Stand-in captain Moses Simon, earning his 97th cap, reacted fastest after Ademola Lookman’s effort was blocked, slotting home with a composed left-footed finish for his second goal in as many matches.
Nigeria went ahead four minutes before halftime when Bright Osayi-Samuel’s pinpoint cross found debutant Emmanuel Fernandez, who showed great composure to control and finish, giving the three-time African champions a 2-1 lead at the interval.
The second half took on a more physical tone, with goalkeeper Francis Uzoho forced off in the 57th minute after sustaining an injury while clearing the ball. Adebayo Adeleye replaced him between the posts.
Head coach Eric Chelle introduced Wilfred Ndidi and Alex Iwobi to shore up the midfield, but Jordan continued to press and were rewarded with an equaliser in the 77th minute.
Nigeria pushed for a winner late on, handing a senior debut to Philip Otele, while Samuel Chukwueze came on for Moses Simon. However, the closing moments were marred by Iwobi’s dismissal, leaving the Super Eagles to see out the match with ten men.
Despite the draw, the encounter offered valuable insights for the coaching crew as Nigeria continues preparations for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
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By Kunle Solaja
Match Context
- Fixture: Jordan vs Nigeria
- Venue: Antalya, Turkey
- Occasion: Four-Nation Invitational Tournament
- Kick-off: Tuesday (evening)
They would have loved facing Jamaica in Mexico today for a place at the World Cup, but fate has other plans, and Nigeria’s Super Eagles will be taking on World Cup debutants Jordan in a friendly match instead in Turkey.
The encounter promises to be a revealing contest for both sides as preparations intensify for future global assignments.
The encounter, staged as part of a four-nation tournament in Turkey, will be the third meeting between the two countries, with the head-to-head record finely poised.
History Beckons in Third Meeting
Nigeria claimed a 2-0 victory in their first clash at the National Stadium, Lagos, on 28 April 2004 during the LG Cup.
However, the tables turned in 2013 when a largely experimental Nigerian side under the late Stephen Keshi suffered a 1-0 defeat in Amman, courtesy of a Hatem Aqel penalty.
This latest meeting now serves as the decider in what has quietly become a balanced rivalry.
Jordan arrive in buoyant mood, riding on the crest of a historic achievement, which is their first-ever qualification for the FIFA World Cup (2026).
Jordan’s Al-Nashama
Their recent form underlines a team growing in confidence and tactical discipline. In the past months, Al-Nashama have:
- Held Russia (0-0)
- Defeated Dominican Republic (3-0)
- Drawn with Mali (0-0)
- Narrowly lost to Bolivia (1-0) and Albania (4-2)
- Pushed Tunisia (3-2 loss) in a competitive encounter
They also opened this invitational tournament with a 2-2 draw against Costa Rica, further evidence of their resilience.
The team’s preparations have been boosted by a morale-lifting visit from Prince Ali bin Al-Hussein, President of the Jordan Football Association, during their Antalya training camp.
Coach Jamal Al-Salami has deliberately scheduled matches against Nigeria and Costa Rica, citing their stylistic similarity to World Cup opponents such as Argentina, Austria, and Algeria.
Despite missing several key players, including star forward Mousa Ta’mari, Jordan have continued to show depth, blending senior players with youth prospects as part of a broader developmental strategy.
Nigeria head into the clash with renewed confidence after a 2-1 victory over Iran in their opening game of the tournament, with goals from Moses Simon and Akor Adams.
Unlike previous meetings, the Super Eagles are expected to field a full-strength squad, packed with Europe-based stars, something Jordanian observers have already described as a “heavyweight challenge.”
The squad boasts a blend of experience and attacking flair.
The presence of multiple attacking options gives Nigeria a clear edge going forward, while their physicality and pace could pose serious problems for the Jordanians.
Jordan are expected to adopt a compact, disciplined shape, relying on quick transitions and defensive organisation, qualities that earned them results against stronger opposition in recent friendlies.
Nigeria, by contrast, will likely dominate possession, using width and individual brilliance to break down Jordan’s defensive lines.
The key battle may lie in midfield, where Jordan’s structure will be tested against Nigeria’s blend of strength, technique, and tempo.
For Jordan, this is another step in fine-tuning a squad preparing for its historic World Cup debut—a chance to measure themselves against elite opposition.
For Nigeria, it is an opportunity to assert authority, build cohesion among its star-studded squad, and maintain momentum ahead of more competitive fixtures.
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