At a meeting in Abuja, Akinwunmi, who is acting in the absence of President Amaju Pinnick, said the players have to “change your game” and in the process, bring a positive change to the women football brand.
“There has never been any doubt about your pre-eminence in the African continent. Out of the nine continental championships staged so far, Nigeria has won seven of them. You have also consistently qualified for the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
“However, your record at the FIFA Women’s World Cup is not good enough. Sincerely speaking, you have to forget what has been happening in the past and determinedly chart a new course at the finals in Canada this summer.”
In six previous appearances at the FIFA Women’s World Cup, the Falcons have conceded 52 goals, scoring only 15. At the finals in China in 1991 and the 2003 competition in USA, the Nigerian girls did not score a single goal, even as they let in seven goals in China and 11 in America 12 years later.
“It is time for you to appreciate the fact that being champions of Africa is not enough. You have to facilitate change, in the true sense of it. The poor outings at previous World Cup competitions have not helped the women football brand in our country.
“A good outing at the World Cup finals in Canada will change things for the better; it will attract the attention of Corporate Nigeria and that will be the beginning of good and great things for women football in Nigeria.”
The Falcons play USA, Sweden and Australia in Group D of this year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup finals in Canada, taking place 6th June – 5th July.
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