Abuja: Former Golden Eaglets Assistant Coach Bunmi Haruna has expressed confidence in the Falconets’ ability to defeat New Caledonia and revive their campaign in the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup. Haruna’s endorsement comes as the team prepares for a decisive Group F clash on Sunday.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Haruna praised the Falconets for their improved performance in the goalless draw against China, attributing the progress to the return of several players who missed the opening match against Spain. “In the first game, the Falconets lost to a better team. The Spanish side were quite better, but the Nigerian side showed more character. Against China, they played better than they did against Spain because they had more options in terms of some players returning,” Haruna explained.
Haruna advised the technical crew to maintain their current tactical approach, emphasizing the importance of focusing on the players’ mentality and motivation. He stated, “I don’t think they need to change anything righ
t now. They already have their players set. It’s about mentality, motivation and getting the proper details right.”
The former coach expressed confidence in head coach Moses Aduku and his technical team to address the Falconets’ shortcomings while sticking to their established tactics. He emphasized that now is not the time to discuss changes in tactics or formation, but rather to fine-tune their existing strategy.
Looking ahead to the match against New Caledonia, Haruna warned the Falconets not to underestimate their opponents, describing the encounter as a must-win. “It’s a must-win game, but I will advise them not to underrate New Caledonia. It’s very important that you don’t underrate an opponent. New Caledonia will not lie down and allow them to roll through them,” he cautioned.
Haruna commended Aduku for his efforts in identifying areas for improvement and making necessary adjustments between matches. He also defended the team against criticism over their draw with China, citing challenges in the tea
m’s preparation and access to quality training facilities as factors to consider.
The former assistant coach urged Nigerians to support the current squad and refrain from making unfair comparisons with previous Falconets teams that featured players with senior international experience. He emphasized the importance of viewing the current team as part of Nigeria’s long-term player development program.
NAN reports that Nigeria is placed in Group F alongside Spain, China, and New Caledonia in the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland. With Spain leading the group, Nigeria needs a victory against New Caledonia in Lódz to keep their qualification hopes alive. The Falconets, who have previously finished as runners-up in 2010 and 2014, are determined to advance beyond the group stage in this year’s tournament, which runs from September 5 to September 27.