Otis fears for Super Falcons’ World Cup campaign

FORMER Super Falcons striker, Shola Otis, believes the fire brigade approach will spell doom for Nigeria’s FIFA Women’s World Cup campaign in Canada, reports supersport.com.

  The reigning African champions will campaign at the upcoming quadrennial global football showpiece in Group D together with former champions, USA, Sweden and Australia.

  Otis said she is shocked to know that the Nigerian representatives are not in camp four months to the commencement of the top grade championship.

  “It’s our norm nothing new to the practice of starting preparations for a major championship almost at the eleventh hour, especially when it concerns the women folk.

  “We always give a lot of things to chance so if the side didn’t get good result at the World Cup nobody, not even the team, are to be blamed.

  “It’s quite shocking that the players are in their respective homes four months to the kickoff of the World Cup while their counterparts in other lands are in close camp playing top flight friendly matches.

  “Perhaps, we’re expecting miracle to happen at the World Cup but miracle doesn’t happen always.

  “I won’t say outright that we’re preparing for failure at the World Cup, but it’s not right that they’re not in camp at the moment.

  “Fire brigade approach to the World Cup preparations will only spell doom for the side who as African champions are expected to surpass their past performances at the championship,” the former Jegede Babes markswoman told supersport.com.

  Otis said Super Falcons will be lucky to survive the heat in their group involving America, Australia and Sweden.

  “Let’s hope for miracle as the United States of America and Sweden are the strongest obstacle for Falcons’ survival in their group. Miracle can still see us through the group campaign in a situation we pull draws against America and Sweden while we pick maximum points against Australia.

“That’s quite a difficult group but I believe something miraculous could still happen to see them through.

  “However, we need to help the side’s World Cup course by immediately calling the side to camp as well as arrange top grade friendly matches for them to catch up with the lost time,” said the former Abiola Babes star.