Coach Randy Waldrum has vowed to guide Nigeria’s senior women’s national team to the second round of the FIFA Women’s World Cup slated to start in Australia and New Zealand on Thursday.
Waldrum whose preparations for the World Cup has been marred by his expletive on the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), stressed that they would strive to come up with a positive outcome against Canada in the Group B first game on Friday.
This year’s World Cup, would be Waldrum’s second major competition with the Super Falcons, after the team came fourth at the Women African Cup of Nations last year but the American is optimistic of a good outcome.
“I think the expectations is to get out of the group, that hasn’t changed. One thing I know is that the players have given us everything in the past days and we will continue to do that until Friday. We will be proud and make you all proud as well,” he said.
The Super Falcons will start their campaign on Friday against Canada, before facing the host, Australia on the 27th and lastly against the Republic of Ireland on the 31st of July.
Meanwhile, defender Glory Ogbonna has asserted that the Super Falcons are raring to go ahead of Friday’s opener against .
Ogbonna who will be making her debut at the FIFA Women’s World Cup , expressed her readiness to give her best against reigning Olympics Football Tournament champions.
“I feel great and elated to play at the senior women’s World Cup having represented Nigeria twice at youth level. It has been my wish to be part of it and my wish has been granted. I’m grateful to God,” Ogbonna reportedly said as per a chat with Favour Itua. “We are ready, we have been preparing and training hard for the first game.
“ We know that Canada has a good team but we are also a good side in terms of individual and team players. We have all it takes to face any team.”
“Everyone in camp is so positive and we expect good result in the first game. We can wait anymore for the game to come. We shall be going all out against Canada and to make our country proud.”
Super Falcons are the least ranked team in the group with Canada and Australia occupying the seventh and 10th spots while Republic of Ireland are 22nd in the last FIFA Women’s ranking released on June 9th .
But Ogbonna who presently plays for Besiktas FK in the Turkish women’s league opined that the Super Falcons would ensure that they surprised their three group opponents as they strive to pick one of the two tickets to the next round.
“We may be the lowest ranked team in our group, but it doesn’t play football. You don’t underrate any team. Football gives room for surprises. It doesn’t matter our position in the ranking. What matters is going there and show up the stuff you are made up.”
