Sweden’s Thomas Dannerby appointed as Nigeria’s women’s coach
The experienced Swedish tactician has been appointed as head coach of the Super Falcons on a two-year deal.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has announced top Swedish football tactician, Thomas Dannerby, as the new head coach of the country’s women’s team, the Super Falcons.
The 58-year-old has signed a two-year deal with subject to renewal. He will be replacing Nigerian legend Florence Omagbemi, whose contract expired in 2016. Dannerby will come into the job with assistant Jorgen Petersson.
Super Falcons expected to reach the next level
The appointment of Dannerby is in line with the pledge made by NFF President Amaju Pinnick to take the Super Falcons to higher levels.
“The NFF decided to go for a coach of the calibre of Thomas Dennerby for three reasons: to sustain and enhance the Super Falcons’ dominance on the African scene; to take the Falcons and the other women teams to the next level of challenging for laurels at global competitions like the Olympics and the FIFA World Cup and; to generally lay the foundation for the real development of women’s football in our country,” Shehu Dikko, NFF 2nd Vice President/Chairman of Strategy, told NFF website.
“Dennerby will live in Nigeria most of the time and support the other women teams whenever he has the time. The contract is until the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo in the initial, with the right for automatic renewal subject to meeting performance milestones as agreed. He will be in Nigeria very soon for the public unveiling,” Dikko added.
Dennerby, a world class tactician
Dannerby, previously a player in Allsvenskan’s Hammarby IF, coached the Swedish women’s senior team between 2005 and 2012, leading the side to a bronze medal at the 2011 FIFA World Cup finals.
He also took Sweden to the 2008 and 2012 Olympics, reaching the quarter-finals on both occasions.
Dannerby’s first task as Super Falcons coach will be the West African championship in Ivory Coast, scheduled for 10-24 February.
After that, the team will focus on securing a spot at the 2018 Africa Women Cup in Ghana, the competition that will decide the continent’s teams for the 2019 Women’s World Cup.
The Super Falcons are the only African team to have played in all of the seven Women’s World Cups since 1991.