By Harry Awurumibe
The dream of former Super Falcons Head Coach Thomas Dennerby to qualify India for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World billed for Australia and New Zealand have evaporated like early morning dew as the country failed to book her first-ever ticket at the just concluded AFC Women’s Asian Cup held in India.
Dennerby and his Indian senior women’s football team had played out a barren draw with Iran women’s football team in the opening match of Group A in the competition on January 21 but was struck by Covid-19 outbreak that left the hosts unable to field a team for their second group match against Chinese Taipei and ultimately forced their withdrawal from the tournament.
The situation forced the AFC, championship organizers to void the result of the first match between India and Iran in the eight-team competition.
The dire consequences of being thrown out of the competition was a heartbreak for Dennerby and India which had gone into the Asian Cup with justifiably high hopes of qualifying for their first Women’s World Cup final and boosting the country’s ambitious plans for growing the women’s game.
Dennerby, the team’s vastly experienced Head Coach, described the incident without hesitation as “my worst ever experience as a head coach”.
“My team and I are devastated. This was six months of sacrifice, dreams and passion. Our dreams are forever killed”, lamented the Swede.
Dennerby who was elevated to manage India’s senior women’s team actually took up the job of India’s U-17 women’s football team in November 2019 shortly after he quit the Super Falcons job in October 2019 despite having a year left in his contract, after disagreements with the Nigeria Football Federations (NFF).
He was unveiled as Super Falcons Head Coach in January 2018 and he led Nigeria’s senior women’s team to the 2018 Africa Women’s Cup of Nations (AWCON) title in December 2018.
Dennerby was named the Best Female Coach of The Year at the 2019 NFF Awards just as he led Nigeria to the knockout stage of the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup held in France.
Meanwhile, six countries including co-host Australia qualified to represent AFC at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
They are:
*Australia- Co-host
*China PR- AFC Champions
*Japan- Runner-up
*Korea Republic
*Philippines
*Vietnam
