The Super Falcons, Nigeria’s women’s national football team, are facing injury concerns just days before their first match against Canada in the Group B opener of the 2023 Women’s World Cup. Coach Randy Waldrum revealed this in a video interview shared on the Super Falcons’ Twitter account.
When asked about the injury worries, Waldrum expressed his concerns, stating, “We have a couple of knocks, a couple of injuries that concern me a little bit, but aside from that, the players are healthy. It’s all about their performances and how they play on the field.”
Despite the injury concerns, Waldrum commended the team’s training camp, describing it as very good so far. He mentioned that the players have been working hard and that the talent level is impressive. As they enter day five of the camp, Waldrum expressed his satisfaction with the progress and enjoyed watching the players in action.
In the upcoming tournament, the Super Falcons aim to advance from a challenging group that includes hosts Australia, Olympic champions Canada, and debutant Republic of Ireland. In the previous Women’s World Cup held in 2019 in France, the Nigerian team reached the round of 16.
Waldrum expressed confidence in his team’s ability to progress from the group stage. He emphasized the talent at his disposal and the importance of defensive organization. The coach believes that with the right preparation and performance, the Super Falcons have every opportunity to be successful. He specifically highlighted the significance of the first match against Canada and the need to secure a positive outcome.
Despite the team’s positive training camp, there have been off-pitch issues between Waldrum and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF). In podcast interviews, the coach criticized the NFF for their lack of support in terms of proper World Cup preparation. He also accused the NFF of misappropriating $960,000 from FIFA earmarked for World Cup preparations.
In conclusion, the Super Falcons are facing injury concerns ahead of their Group B opener against Canada in the 2023 Women’s World Cup. Coach Randy Waldrum expressed his concerns but remains confident in the team’s talent and ability to progress from the group stage. Despite off-pitch issues with the NFF, the team is determined to perform at their best in the tournament.
