Ex-assistant coach Monsur urges calm for Banyana test

Former Super Falcons assistant coach Mansur Abdullahi has advised the Nigerian women's national football team to maintain composure and capitalize on their upcoming World Cup play-off opportunity against South Africa. He contends that the team's performance in the recent Women's Africa Cup of Nations was underestimated.

Abdullahi, who also holds the position of Technical Director at Sokoto United and serves as Assistant General Secretary of the Nigeria Football Coaches Association, has a background coaching various Nigerian youth and senior women's teams. He emphasized the importance of the team staying calm and seizing the chance presented by the match on Thursday to secure qualification for the next stage.

He previously advocated for increased investment in grassroots women's football to sustain Nigeria's continental dominance. Abdullahi has consistently called for patience with the current squad, even as the technical crew faces scrutiny following their quarter-final exit to Cameroon. He believes the Falcons' performance was not as poor as widely perceived.

Nigeria faces a crucial must-win match against Banyana Banyana in Casablanca. A victory is necessary to advance to the FIFA Intercontinental Play-Off Tournament, where a spot in the 2027 Women's World Cup in Brazil will be at stake. The team's performance in the WAFCON, particularly the quarter-final loss, has drawn criticism, but Abdullahi suggests a more nuanced view of their capabilities.

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The truth is that Falcons did not play the way people think. My own candid advice is for them to calm down, make use of the opportunity that comes their way on Thursday and get the slot for the next step.