Falcons ready for Barbra, Kundananji Threat
…we have devised strategy to neutralize the twin striking threat of Banda and Rachael says Nigeria’s Coach Justin Madugu
By Cecilia Nayame
NIGERIA women’s national team coach Justin Madugu says he has devised a strategy to neutralize potent Copper Queens twin strikers Barbra Banda and Rachael Kundananji in Friday’s 2024 Morocco TotalEnergies Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) quarter final against his team.
Madugu said he was not bothered by the individual brilliance of the Copper Queens players.
The match is set for Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca.
Banda and Kundananji have played a key role to the team’s performance at the ongoing WAFCON.
Banda have so far scored four goals while Kundananji has contributed two from Group stage matches against Morocco, Senegal and the Democratic Republic of Congo to seal the team’s qualification to the quarter finals.
“We have our strategy, we have watched them severally. We know what they can do but we will work hard and naturalise whatever it is that we know is their strength,” Madugu is quoted in a video ahead of the quarterfinal clash.
He said his side was not bothered about anything going into Friday’s match.
“We are not too bothered about individual players. We know how good they are but we are not bothered, we are not, we are not,” he repeatedly responded when asked if he was sure he was not bothered playing a team which has two most expensive players in the world.
Madugu said the team had prepared for the tournament and not individuals players.
“We are getting ready for each game and we know the players. We know what they can do, we will have an antidote on that day,” he said.
Zambia and Nigeria last met at the 2022 WAFCON Championship where the Copper Queens beat the Super Falcon 1-0 to settle for a bronze medal.
Banda and Kundananji play in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) sides Orlando Pride and Bay FC respectively.
