Daily Independent (Lagos)
Ejiro Femi-Babafemi
21 November 2008
Lagos — The job of the Super Falcons coach, Joseph Ladipo, a.k.a Jossy Lad is on the line following the embarrassing performance of the women national team in the ongoing Africa Women Championship (AWC) in Equatorial Guinea.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) was quite sentimental about Lad's job but feelers from the team's camp in Bata indicate that a decision has been taken to relieve the former Shooting Stars coach of his appointment.
Lad should have been sacked after the team's ouster in the soccer event at the Beijing Olympics during the summer, but surprisingly, he was retained and his assistant, Rolandson Odey, was dropped by NFF. He was replaced by former international, Eucharia Uche.
"They can't believe that Super Falcons is struggling at this stage. They had thought they would have an easy ride but from what they have seen, there are fears that the team might not retain the trophy," said the source.
The last time Lad handled a women team was in 2002 prior to the AWC as an assistant to chief coach, Samuel Okpodu. Beside the national level, Lad has never handled any club side.
Super Falcons is yet to win a match and has two points from its two matches that leave on a cliff hanger with its last group match against South Africa Saturday a must win.
Regardless of the shoreline, Nigeria needs a win over the South Africans, who are basking in confidence following their 1-0 win over the Black Queens of Ghana on Wednesday that gave them semi-final ticket and six points.
Should Falcons win, it would have five points and would face host country that topped Group A with six points next Tuesday.
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