Rivers Angels’ defeat shows Nigerian women’s football is dying, says Izilien

Former Super Falcons coach, Godwin Izilien, has described Rivers Angels 3-0 defeat by Associations Sports of Forces Armed Royal (ASFAR FC) of Morocco in the inaugural CAF Women’s Champions League in Egypt, as a sign of decline in the nation’s women football. He said women football is dying gradually in the county.

Izilien, who led the Super Falcons to win the 2004 edition of African Women Championship (AWC) in South Africa, stated that the failure in raising young players from the grassroots has greatly affected the progress of the women’s league.

He noted that if sustainable structures are not put in place soon, the country would continue to face more embarrassing results at international level.

He wants football administrators in the country create viable road map that would lead to rapid development of women’s football. “Other countries in Africa are moving ahead of Nigeria in the area of creating women football academies. They are also recruiting experienced and exposed coaches to nature their female teams to stardom,” Izilien stated.

He continued: “I must confess that our women football is gradually dying. When I was in charge of the Super Falcons, we gave football administrators a road map to sustain the game in the country, which requires going to the six geo-political zones to source for young players.”

Till this moment, the people did not listen to our advice. People should realise that the life span of a female player is different from the male counterpart.

The NFF should put in place a system to develop young players that will play in the league and national teams.”

Izilien also stated that sentiment should not be used in appointing coaches into various female football teams.

“The excuse that Rivers Angels arrived in Egypt late should not be entertained. The coaches had enough time to prepare the girls,” he said.