EVUMENA STANDS BY FALCONS

Delta Queens coach, Dan Evumena has stoutly stood behind the Super Falcons despite their failure to undo the Japanese side, Nadeshiko in the two-match friendly game in Japan.
The Nigerians fell to the Asian giants 0-2 in the second match decided at the Fukuda Denshi Arena in Chiba, Japan on Thursday.
Two first half goals off the foot of Aya Miyama and Mizuho Sakaguchi in the 21st and 28th minutes decided the game in favour of the reigning world champions who had on Sunday defeated the six-time African champions with same score line.
Although the Nigerians found the opponents back net in the 57th minute but it did not count as it was considered to be an offside.
Evumena said the Super Falcons are undergoing a rebuilding process insisting that it is simply uncharitable for anyone to have expected the hurriedly assembled side to defeat the world champions.
“I’m not disappointed by the outcome of the two-match friendly against Japan, right from the word go the issue is not going to Japan to win but a germane process of rebuilding the side.
“The 0-2 score line is not disgraceful, the fact that the Super Falcons lost the two matches on same goal margin is not enough to write off the team.
“I know they must have worked very hard to force the score line to 0-2 against reigning world champions, that doesn’t paint bad performance by my candid assessment,” said the former Super Falcons assistant coach to supersport.com.
Evumena said it will be a great disservice to the game for the football house to use the game as criteria for the appointment of a substantive coach for the side.
“It will be wrong for the NFF to judge the coach and players on the basis of the two-match friendly against Japan. The present crop of Falcons’ players is entirely new.
“The Japan friendly shouldn’t be a yardstick for the appointment of a head coach for the Super Falcons as much as I commend the NFF for their boldness in accepting the challenge.
“If we believe in the rebuilding process the NFF can further arrange more local friendly matches for the side.
“Coach Edwin Okon is just a caretaker coach, allow him time to play more friendly games with a marching order to open the door further for more players, I know with time the side will get it right,” said the former Falconets coach.