POST CANADA 2015: Where do the Falcons go from here?

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A pertinent question deserving of a pertinent answer. Or answers. 

I had to 'literally' wipe the tears and shake off the gloom before getting to work on this piece.   

The exit of the Falcons from the ongoing Women's World Cup was indeed a bitter pill to swallow and of course ingest. 

As the girls' campaign took off to a flying start against Sweden, a 3-3 draw sufficed and it seemed the girls were going to 'keep up with the challengers' in the 'group of death'. But two losses on a trot without registering a single goal brought all hopes to a crashing halt. 

The Backlash  

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''They were winnable games'' ; ''They flattered to deceive''; 'They should have done X''; ''No Y''..... 

They all said.   

Nigerians are understandably frustrated but some of the judgements passed has been harsh to say the least.  

The painful truth?  

The Falcons will have to wait another four years to redeem themselves from the 'always group stage' tag; one they haven't progressed past since 1999. 

However I've got news......It's happened!  Let the blame game stop!      

 The Healing  

The girls wanted success more than anything. However, it's time to take it a step at a time as we assess and make necessary corrections, working on improvements all round.  

As the team arrived the country on the 20th of June with some of the foreign-based players off to their different teams; this will not signal a period for sober reflections. 

Instead, the team will have a much needed rest before resuming camp in the next two weeks as they embark on preparations for the Olympic Games qualifiers. 

The Future 

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1) The Start of the NWPL 

With the NWPL suspended to fit into Nigeria's participation at the Women's World Cup, it is with anticipation that the league will resume on the 4th of July albeit with games played in midweek and weekends to makeup for time already lost.  

Of the 23 players picked for the WC,11 are home-based thus they amongst others will be instrumental in lifting their sides in the 2014/2015 campaign (paused at Match day three).   

Setting the record straight, the Women's league isn't of the same format as the men's.  

It is divided into two groups of 8 teams each with the winner of each group facing off to claim the title 'Champion of CHAMPIONS'. 

Over the years, the league has churned out stars who have donned the colors of our nation, representing us on the continent and world stage.  

As evidenced in the number of home-based players to foreign-based players from the recent WC as well as past ones, it isn't misplaced to say they make the spine of the team thus the first and only place nurtured (for most) is the domestic league and a stake on the title is the priority. 

Throw in the Fed Cup and we can say that's moving along the direction we seek. 

2) The Olympic Games Qualifiers   

The second round fixture against Mali was a walkover as the Malians forfeited a chance to battle the Super Falcons for a maiden Olympic Games berth. Having met Nigeria earlier in the year in the All Africa Games qualifiers and rattled to a 9-1 aggregate score line, one can say it was understandable.

However, the road to Rio 2016 is still some way off and quite tricky.  

The girls face a very familiar West African foe in Equatorial Guinea. With the first leg coming in mid-July and second leg between late July to early August, the Falcons have some work to do. The Guineans are still smarting from non-qualification for the AWC in Namibia which decided the African reps for the World Cup.  

The only reason why the Falcons have not won the AWC 11 times out of 11 has been this Equatorial Guinea side. Being the only team besides Nigeria to win the AWC; winning it twice, this fixture will be a true test of the Falcons mettle and I daresay, world cup recovery.   

The final Olympic games qualifier is scheduled for October and the Falcons (subject to qualification) will take on either Kenya or South Africa and with wins registered will expectedly pick up one of the two tightly contested continental tickets for Rio 2016. 

Remember the Falcons did not make it to London 2012 after losing to Cameroon in the deciding tie. The girls will be aiming to make it their fourth appearance at the games following outings in the 2000, 2004 and 2008 editions where they only progressed from the group stage into the quarter-finals once; Athens 2004. 

 

This will undoubtedly keep the girls busy as they engage in a retry at dispelling the ''perennial-poor-showing-at-world-stage'' myth. 

3)The All-Africa Games   

Eight teams have already booked their places for the 11th All-Africa Games scheduled to take place in Congo Brazzaville between the 3rd-18th of September, 2015. 

The teams include Nigeria, the hosts-Congo, the defending Champions-Cameroon as well as Ghana, Egypt, Cote d'Ivoire, Tanzania and South Africa. 

Nigeria will be seeking a third title out of four editions; having won the first and second edition in 2003 and 2007 respectively.  

After missing out on a place in the 2011 edition to Ghana (a repeat we avoided thanks to the 9-1 demolition of Mali), it provided other teams the ample opportunity to compete and this saw Cameroon eventually win the crown.  

Nonetheless, all eyes will be on the Super Falcons and how they respond to the change in hierarchy and challenge other nations to the prize.    

4) Preparatory Games   
        

This is all encompassing as the girls are expected to gauge in one or all of the following: tune-up games, training tours as well as high grade friendlies, all in a bid to armor them for the numerous tasks ahead and of course show that Nigeria is not a sleeping, dormant giant.    

So you see...the future is indeed pregnant! 

Let's stop the moaning and grieving and support the Falcons as they play their way to many successes.  

That's the least they deserve!!!