The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has concluded plans to provide African champions, Super Falcons, with what could turn out to be their best-ever preparation for the FIFA Women’s World Cup finals.
The Falcons according to confirmation by the Communication Director of the NFF, Ademola Olajire, will commence their preparations with participation in the Four -Nation Invitational Tournament in China between 17th and 20th January.
He said “It will be followed by participation in the Cyprus Women’s Cup (25th February – 7thMarch), before planned friendly matches with Spain or Canada before a final training camp in Austria that could also take in two tune-up games.”
Host China, Romania and Korea Republic are the other teams taking part in the four -day invitational.
Subsequently, the NFF has announced that the Falcons will have their final camping programme at the same Avita Hotel and Resort in Bad Tatzmannsdorf in Austria, where the Super Eagles stayed before flying to Russia to participate in last year’s FIFA World Cup finals.
When they return from the invitational tournament in China, the Falcons will begin visa processing for Cyprus, where a 12 -Nation Invitational Tournament awaits between 25thFebruary – 7th March.
Other countries taking part are Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Finland, Hungary, Italy, North Korea, Mexico, Slovakia, South Africa and Thailand. Of the lot, Nigeria, Italy, South Africa and Thailand will be going to France.
Nigeria, which is the only African country to have featured in all previous editions of the FIFA Women’s World Cup since the competition was launched in China in 1991, will tackle host nation France, Korea Republic and Norway in Group A of this summer’s finals.
The Super Falcons will open their account in France against Norway, at the 21,000 -capacity Stade Auguste Delaune in Reims on 8th June, before matches against Korea Republic in Grenoble on 12th June and against hosts France in Rennes on 17th June.
