FIFA World Cup: Don’t put pressure on Falcons — ex-Nigerian International, Madu

Former Super Falcons midfielder, Maureen Madu, has warned Nigerians not to heap unnecessary pressure on Falcons playing at the ongoing FIFA Women’s World cup in Canada.

“We don’t need to put pressure on the players” she warned. “Let us think of Australia first, we are meeting first before we talk about USA,” she told PREMIUM TIMES.

Madu, who is the most capped Falcons players with 101 games appearance, said the games against USA, the number one female football team in the world, will be a difficult one.

“It is going to be a difficult game but I think we should take one game at a time. I think their fighting spirit against Sweden was fantastic and I congratulate them because they did well”.

Madu, currently a football coach in Norway, advised the girls not to be in a haste to leave the box when on the field of play and to also work more on their defence.

“We have to put a taller player to go for the ball during corners then the rest of the player should mark, follow their runs, don’t stand and watch them.

“We should also not be in a haste to go out of the 18 yards until the ball has been kicked out, and to defend together as a team after we finish the attack,” she explained.

Falcons will play Australia at 9 p.m. on Friday.