International Friendly: Algeria’s ‘Green Ladies’ storm Lagos, as Madugu looks forward to ‘masterclass’ outing
A 35-woman delegation of the Algeria senior women national football team has arrived in Lagos, ahead of the international friendly matches with nine-time African champions Nigeria on Saturday and Tuesday.
The delegation members are staying at the Eko Hotel and Towers, Victoria Island.
Both teams will clash at the Remo Stars’ Sports Complex, Ikenne from 3pm on Saturday, 26th October with the second match scheduled for the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Lagos on Tuesday, 29th October from 4pm.
The ‘Green Ladies’, who have made five appearances at the Women Africa Cup of Nations, with their debut in 2004, were scheduled to train at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena at 5pm on Thursday.
However, both the ‘Green Ladies’ and the Super Falcons will move to the Legacy Pitch inside the National Stadium, Surulere for their official training sessions, with the Algerians to take the pitch at 4pm.
Head Coach Justine Madugu said on Thursday that he is expecting a masterclass performance from the Super Falcons, who impressed at last year’s FIFA World Cup finals in Down Under and made a return to the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament this summer after a 16-year absence.
‘We have been having useful sessions since we resumed on Monday. I am impressed with the discipline and sense of dedication of the players, and I am looking forward to a masterclass performance by the Super Falcons in both games.
‘We respect the Algerians just as we respect every team we play, but the truth is that we need to bounce back strongly from the below-par outing at the Olympics and restore our team’s confidence and positive spirit.’
These two matches stir memories of the Aisha Buhari Women’s Tournament held in Lagos in September 2021, which is also the last time the Super Falcons played Grade A friendly matches on home soil.
Madugu’s squad has a large contingent of home-based professionals, with only six overseas-based players invited.
