The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Maureen Madu

  • BREAKING: Maureen Madu dropped from Super Falcons coaching crew

     

    Super Falcons Assistant Coach Maureen Madu has been dropped from the team’s technical crew.

    The Nation  gathered that the former international was dropped alongside other local coaches that have been sharing the heat of the team with head coach Thomas Derneby.

    The dropped coaches we further gathered had to go as the contract they signed did not extend beyond the World Cup in France where Nigeria crashed out in the group of 16.

    Madu has been replaced by Wemimo Oni who is currently with the Falconets and will join the senior national team on her return from the Africa Games in Morocco where Falconets have been pitched against South Africa, Cameroon and Zambia in Group B.

    The African Games formerly called the All-African Games will hold from August 16-30 in Moroccan cities of Rabat, Cassablanca, ElJadida and Khemisset.

    Nigeria will be competing in 23 sports at the Games. At the 2015 edition in Congo Brazzaville, Nigeria featured in 21 events and finished in the top five with 47 Gold, 55 Silver and 42 Bronze.

    Super Falcons in action against Bayana Bayana

    There were calls in certain quarters for the Super Falcons head coach Thomas Derneby to be shown the door with many insisting that the Swede has not made any input into the team hence the poor show in France.

    The Nigeria football Federation (NFF) have however chosen to allow him continue just like his Super Eagles counterpart Gernot Rohr has been told to continue his job despite submissions in some quarters that the performance of the team at the last Nations cup in Egypt  where the Eagles clinched the third place, was below par.

  • Super Falcons arrive in Abidjan for WAFU Women’s Cup

    Super Falcons arrive in Abidjan for WAFU Women’s Cup

    Nigeria’s senior women national team, the Super Falcons, have arrived in the Ivorian capital city of Abidjan in Cote d’Ivoire, the Nigeria Football Federation ( NFF ) said on Monday in Abuja.

    The Falcons are in the west African country for the 2018 WAFU Cup of Nations tournament which begins on Wednesday.

    NFF, in a statement by its Communications Department, said the team’s new head coach, Thomas Dennerby, was at the head of the contingent.

    “The contingent also has with it assistant coaches Wemimo Mathew and Maureen Madu, the team doctor and the physiotherapist.

    “However, assistant coach Omobolanle Taiwo and Team Administrator Modupe Shabi will join the team on Wednesday,’’ it said.

    The NFF also said veteran midfielder of the Super Falcons Osarenoma Igbinovia, who turns out for Bayelsa Queens FC, led the playing personnel.

    “Other players included Joy Jegede, Rasheedat Ajibade, Chioma Wogu, Amarachi Okoronkwo, Glory Ogbonna, Kemi Famuditi and Anam Imo,’’ it said.

    Eight–time African champions Falcons will play their first match of the competition on Thursday against Benin Republic, from 3 p.m. Cote d’Ivoire time (4 p.m. Nigeria time).

    They will then tackle Senegal on Saturday and Togo on Feb. 19.

    The Full Squad:

    Goalkeepers: Chiamaka Nnadozie (Rivers Angels); Rita Akarekor (Delta Queens); Onyinyechukwu Okeke (Edo Queens)

    Defenders: Mary Ologbosere (Rivers Angels); Joy Jegede (Delta Queens); Glory Ogbonna (Ibom Angels); Lilian Tule (Bayelsa Queens); Ujunwa Okafor (Delta Queens); Opeyemi Aiyenibereun (Sunshine Queens); Oluwakemi Famuditi (Confluence Queens)

    Midfielders: Osarenom Igbinovia (Bayelsa Queens); Ihuoma Onyebuchi (Sunshine Queens); Peace Efih (Edo Queens); Amarachi Okoronkwo (Nasarawa Amazons); Ogechi Ukwuoma (Delta Queens)

    Forwards: Rasheedat Ajibade (FC Robo Queens); Chioma Wogu (Rivers Angels); Aminat Yakubu (Bayelsa Queens); Alice Ogebe (Rivers Angels); Anam Imo (Nasarawa Amazons); Chinaza Uchendu (Rivers Angels).

    NAN

  • Swede coach vow to rebuild Falcons, says “I won’t be a flying coach’’

    Swede coach vow to rebuild Falcons, says “I won’t be a flying coach’’

    Thomas Dennerby, the new Head Coach of Super Falcons, on Tuesday promised to rebuild and improve the senior national women football team, saying “I won’t be a flying coach’’.

    Dennerby, while speaking at his unveiling by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) at the National Stadium in Abuja, said he was taking up the post as a challenge.

    “I am honoured and excited to be here. It is a big challenge and I look forward to doing my best

    “I believe in hard work, building up a network with domestic and professional coaches abroad.

    “My philosophy is to get best out of every player and the coaching staff. The best way to improve the team is to work together and I am looking forward to work with the members of staff,’’ he said.

    Dennerby, who would be assisted by fellow Swede Jorgen Petersson, also has Olarenwaju Oni and Maureen Madu as assistants and Tunde Omobolanle as goalkeepers’ trainer to work with.

    He however warned that he was going to place huge demands on his players to do their best in every training session or game and being professional every single time.

    Read Also:  NFF signs top Swedish coach, Dennerby, for Super  Falcons

    “Even when eating, sleeping, being fit and all, this is what I demand.

    “I have a strong will-to-win attitude and I am sure that the players have such attitude. So, I look forward to doing my job.

    “I am not going to be a flying coach, I am going to live here,’’ the coach said.

    On his part, NFF’s Second Vice-President, Shehu Dikko, who represented the federation’s President, Amaju Pinnick, said the federation ensured it chose a qualified and well-experienced coach for the team.

    “ Over the years we have achieved so many successes within the African space, but it is time for us to move to the world stage.

    “Everybody knows we have the passion, belief and quality, and all we need is a little push both administratively and technically to shake the world.

    “This is what led us to Dennerby. We found him as someone, who is well experienced and valuable to what we want to achieve, following his successes as a coach.

    “ So, I believe that we have the right man. With the right support, this project will lead us to where we want to be among the world powers of football.

    “We hope to be able to participate well in every tournament and be among the key contenders in all events and that is what Dennerby is here to do,’’ he said.

    Also present at the unveiling were reigning African Footballer of the Year Asisat Oshoala and Falcons teammate Onome Ebi, amongst others.

    NAN

  • Exclusive: Maureen Madu ready to partner NFF on sponsorship

    Exclusive: Maureen Madu ready to partner NFF on sponsorship

    Former Super Falcons player, Maureen Madu has expressed interest in sponsoring the country’s female football teams if she is approached by the appropriate authorities.
    In a chat with the NationSports, the most capped player of the Super Falcons of Nigeria stated that she is ready to give back to a society that made her a successful and well known footballer across the globe.
    “The door is open if they approach me on the area of sponsorship. If they come with their proposal, I will study it, if it is what I feel I can do, I will do it. And from experience, I believe the NFF know the right thing to do. If I am being called by the NFF, I will not reject the offer to impart my wealth of experience on the players,” she said.
    Madu who gave out a monetary award of N50, 000 to the Most Valuable Player of the Nigerian National League (NNL) on Saturday was also of the opinion that Nigeria Football Federation(NFF) should ensure that they create awareness for sponsors and the good benefits they would derive from sponsoring female teams in the country: “The NFF have to protect their own , they should not say things that would be of negative impact on the teams. Nobody will want to associate with such a team or club,” she noted.
    On the issue of lesbianism amongst female football teams in Nigeria, Madu stated that such sexual orientation did not exist during her days as a Super Falcons Player.
    She said: “I don’t think Lesbianism existed between us. The coaches we had then, were very strict. Coach Ismail Mabo never allowed it. Whenever we are being called to the national team, they don’t put us together in the same room. I don’t think it existed that period when we were there. Although In Norway, Denmark they permit it because according to them it is love it doesn’t matter. In Europe, it is legalized, you cannot tell people what to do, but here in Nigeria our culture is different.”