Enow Ngachu eyes Fifa Women World Cup knockout phase

The Lionesses’ gaffer aims for a second round finish on their debut and as well improve upon their London 2012 Olympic outing in the north American nation.

Head coach of Cameroon senior women national team Enow Ngachu is targeting nothing short of knockout stage with the Lionesses at the 2015 Fifa Women’s World Cup which begins on June 6 in Canada. The African representatives, who were the first to arrive the hosts nation with 24-days to kick-off are grouped alongside reigning champions Japan, Switzerland and Ecuador in Group B.

Ngachu, who is leading Cameroonians to their first ever appearance at the 7th Fifa Women’s World Cup qualified as runners up at the 2014 African Women Championship in Namibia, and feels they can spring up surprises on their debut.

The 40-year-old, also praised the improved clinical displays of his defenders in warm-up games hoping they will do better and adapt to the North American nation’s poor climate condition in time.

“My personal target in Canada will be to reach the second round with Cameroon. the Super Falcons at previous World Cups. We have a very young but combative girls who would give their best in every game to get results,” Ngachu told Goal.

“We played some friendlies. This we wanted to assess our preparation, we need to work very hard especially defensively because we discovered many weaknesses. Though we’ve conceded few goals, we still committed many defensive errors.

“Our objective here is to perform more than what we did in the 2012 London Olympic games. I also personally want to reach the second round on our debut and as well learn more here about women football.

“We arrived here to help us acclimatize. Our first obstacle is acclimation with the weather here the rest will follow.

“It is cold here and I’m hopeful will be able adapt before World Cup than our hot weather in Cameroon. We have better facilities than the poor artificial turf in Cameroon.

“All the teams in our group have advantages as newcomers. It’s going to be their first participation except for Japan.

“But for us, we expect any challenge. We also are here to create a surprise by God’s Grace it shall happen,” he concluded.

Cameroon who have won three friendly games [10-3 against North Shore Girls Soccer Club and 3-1 Coaster FC U16 boys] will play their opening game against Ecuador on June 8 in Vancouver.