Sports News of Tuesday, 27 November 2018

Source: ghanasoccernet.com

AWCON 2018: Nigeria coach Thomas Dennerby reveals Super Falcons are 'relaxed' for Cameroon clash

Thomas Dennerby, Coach of Super Falcons of Nigeria Thomas Dennerby, Coach of Super Falcons of Nigeria

Head coach of the Super Falcons of Nigeria, Thomas Dennerby says his side are "relaxed" for the semi-final clash against Cameroon at the Africa Women's Cup of Nations on Tuesday.

The Champions are facing the side they beat to win the competition two years ago but despite the threat posed by the Indomitable Lionesses, Dennerby says they remain calm and ready for the game.

"It’s one of the games I am looking forward to as a coach of Super Falcons because of the rivalry between both countries at the AWCON. Preparations are good so far. We had a plan coming into this tournament and we are on course so far. After the initial setback against South Africa on matchday one, we regrouped and decided to show what champions are made of and we bounced back against Equatorial Guinea and Zambia and that has brought us here," he said in the pre-match conference.

"As a coach sometimes it’s good to be under pressure and I have been in this situation before so it’s not a new thing to me. I am relaxed and players are taking it easy. That doesn’t mean that we are not taking the game serious, on the contrary we are very serious, but being too serious sometimes have a negative effect on a team. That is why we are looking relaxed. But trust me we are very fired up for the game," he added.

"When we started the tournament the vision was to pick one of the two tickets to the Women’s World Cup in France next year. Indeed winning the trophy is part of the plans too, but for now our immediate plan is to be at the World Cup. Once we go into the final and secure the ticket, then we plan for whoever we meet at the finals."

"I agree with anybody who says it’s going to be a tough game tomorrow and we are aware of that fact, but my players are motivated enough for the game. We have to be good in all aspects of the game tomorrow."