» » » » Falcons coach says Mali challenge a big task

Super Falcons’ Head Coach, Edwin Okon on Thursday said having to face Mali in the All-Africa Games (AAG) and 2016 Olympics qualifiers was a big task for the African champions.

Okon told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that they were however ready to surmount the task ahead of them, even though the timing of the team’s camping was unfavourable.
The African champions resumed camp on Feb. 22 in preparations for the qualifiers against Mali .
“It is a very big task and we are in for it, because it is a must for us to qualify being the African champions and since all eyes will be on us,” the coach said.
Falcons will play the first leg of the AAG qualifiers on March 22 in Bamako and the return leg in Nigeria two weeks later.
“Though the timing of our camp is not favourable enough, we will still not dwell on that.
`”For now, we will dwell on our work rate at the training and see how we can match up with those who have started training before us,’’ Okon said.
The first leg of the Olympic Games qualifiers on the other hand will hold on May 9 in Nigeria while the return leg holds in Bamako on May 16.
“We know we have a lot of work ahead of us, but we are ready for it because we know the league has not started and if we should relax, it will be against us.
“That is why we decided to start training by 3p.m. for now, to see if they can endure.
“Once their endurance rate is good, whether or not the league competition is going on, we will pick up from there,’’ Okon said.
The coach, who also handles Rivers Angels FC of Port Harcourt, however, expressed satisfaction at the turnout of the players at the camp.
He said the invitation of new players was to give room for other players, apart from those who won the African Women Championship (AWC) with the team in October 2014.
“I am a happy man with the response of the players who are injury-free, coupled with their response to training, and with what I have seen after two days, we are good to go.
“And I invited new faces because I am looking for the best. If they are serious, I can as well drop those who went with me to Namibia .
“There is no permanent room for anybody here in our camp. It is a free ground. So, we are not biased, we want everyone to come in and show us what they have,’ Okon said.
He said he has confidence in the capabilities of the 24 players already in camp, out of the invited 36.
The coach also allayed fears that the non-appearance of the others might affect the team.
“I don’t rely on any player or group of players because I am a grassroots coach.
“And out of the 24 players here in camp, there is no way I cannot get 18 or 20 players who can represent the country.
“Though the inclusion of the other 12 will be a very big boost to the team, if they can’t make it, it will not affect us and that is what we are preparing for now,’’ Okon said.
NAN reports that 36 players were invited to camp out of which 10 are foreign-based. And so far, only two out of the 10 foreign-based have reported alongside 22 home-based.

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