Dedevbo- Falconets’ Win Injects Lot More Confidence

Coach Peter Dedevbo told Super Falconets to play fast game against Korea.

Nigeria’s Falconets handler Dedevbo says he instructed his team to rather outpace Korea Republic instead of indulging in an endless tussle for possession, ahead of Saturday’s 2-1 win in Moncton, Canada.

Opening minute record strike by US-based Courtney Dike and 34th minute powerful Chiwendu Ihezuo’s shot sealed all three points for the Africans in their penultimate group game at the 2014 U-20 women’s World Cup, despite a Kim Soyi’s consolation.

“We are happy with the victory,” the former Nigeria women’s U-17 tactician said in his post-match briefing. “This win is very important because it will give a lot of confidence to this team.”

Having ended their opening group game against Mexico in stalemate,Dedevbo earlier stressed the need for maximum point in his side’s bid to reach the quarter-finals.

He had pepped up his team to stifle the Koreans’ over-expressive pattern by closing down space, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Dedevbo said: “After the draw against Mexico I was a little bit disappointed, but it was just the first match. Before the match I explained to my girls the kind of football that Korea plays, the ‘tiki taka’ and that we couldn’t play like that.

“We needed to be fast, and that’s the way we played. When Korea scored I was not worried, because I know the level of fitness of my players, so I was always confident.”

The win means Nigeria now move top of Group C with 4 points, as England and Mexico played out their second consecutive 1-1 draw earlier on Saturday at the same venue.

Up next are the English girls in Wednesday’s final group game billed for the Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton. Nigeria women’s national team cadet require just draw to progress into the knock-out phase for the fifth time.

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