Pretenders will be shown the door, says Super Falcons coach

Super Falcons coach, Edwin Okon, is working on a training programme that will expose any player pretending to be fit for the FIFA Women’s World Cup.

The African champions, who are in the same group with USA, Sweden, and Australia, are currently in camp preparing for the championship scheduled for Canada.

And the coach said he’s ready to drop any unfit player.

“Out of 26 training at the moment we’ll determine the final 23 that will head to Canada for the World Cup campaign,” he told supersport.com.

“Whoever that is proven not to be 100% fit will be dropped as there is no room for automatic shirt.

“The final list of players will be the ones who are 100% ready to give their all on the field of play.

“Right now our captain, Evelyn Nwabuoku and Francisca Ordega are being expected as their clubs are still holding them back.

“However, like I said no unfit player will make it to the World Cup. We’ve friendly matches to play before the World Cup proper those matches will certainly expose any pretender and the pretender will be shown the door.

“Our desire is to be counted at the World Cup and we won’t leave any stone unturned to ensure we achieve the target.”

Okon further explained how he will go about getting the best out of the players.

“We’re working twice round the clock to put the players to perfect shape as there is no room for rest at the moment,” he said.

“So far preparations are going on smoothly and according to our lined up programme until we head out for the final phase training tour.

“Some key players from the Under-20 side is shockingly realising that training at the mainstream team is quite different from what it is at the underage cadre.

“Courtney Dike who joined from the Falconets and few others have admitted that training is tough compared with what it was previously.

“However, all the players have shown unusual determination to be counted in the programmes lined for the World Cup and they’re coping perfectly well.”

The Super Falcons will start their World Cup campaign on June 8 with a game against Sweden in Winnipeg while Australia come next on June 12 and USA on June 16.