Women World Cup: Adepoju urges Falcons to raise game against Australia

Warri (Delta) – A former Super Eagles player, Mutiu Adepoju has commended the Super Falcons’ 3-3 drawn game against the Swedish National Women team in the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Canada. Nigeria's forward Asisat Oshoala kicks the ball to score a goal as Sweden's defender Nilla Fischer tries to stop during Group D match of the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup between Nigeria and Sweden at the Winnipeg Stadium on June 8, 2015, in Winnipeg, Manitoba. AFP Nigeria’s forward Asisat Oshoala kicks the ball to score a goal as Sweden’s defender Nilla Fischer tries to stop during Group D match of the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup between Nigeria and Sweden at the Winnipeg Stadium on June 8, 2015, in Winnipeg, Manitoba. AFP Adepoju on Tuesday that in as much as he had desired an outright victory for the National team, the eventual outcome was good enough. He, however, urged the players to raise their game against the Australians if they must qualify for the next stage of the competition. The former coach of the Shooting Stars (3SC) of Ibadan said the first game in every tournament was very important, “it goes a long way to determine whether a team will advance. “However, it is not a bad result but the second game against Australia has to be won, if they expect to qualify to move to the next stage. “An own goal can happen to anybody; that does not mean they are not good enough. They were a little jittery and did not gain confidence in good time. “I think the coaches will make corrections, where they think the team has problems in subsequent matches,’’ he said. The team came twice from behind to salvage the a point in the highly explosive encounter. The Liverpool striker and BBC player of the year, Asisat Oshoala, Ngozi Okobi and Francisca Ordega all registered their names on the score sheet for the National team. Falcon’s Desire Oparanozie had earlier conceded an own goal to give the Swedish side the two goals lead just before the interval.