Women’s World Cup: Nigeria Coach not celebrating Injury to Australia players ahead of Thursdays clash

Nigeria Super Falcons Coach Randy Waldrum has revealed he is not celebrating news of Injury to Australia players ahead of Thursdays 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup group B clash in Brisbane.

Tournament co-hosts Australia will be without skipper Sam Kerr and two other players for the game against Nigeria on Thursday July 27 but that news is not pleasing to Waldrum.

” Well, we never like to see players injured, and I know how devastating that is, missing matches in the World Cup,” Waldrum said, as quoted by Mail Online.

“But I don’t think it really changes our tactics and what we’re trying to do – they [Australia] obviously still have a lot of weapons that can hurt you.”

When asked his knowledge of the opposition, the Nigeria Coach revealed he knows so much about the Australian players from his days coaching in the NWSL.

“I know a lot of their players really well from playing back in the NWSL when I was coaching in the pro league, and I know the quality of those players, so we can’t go into the match thinking we’re at some advantage for that reason.” Waldrum added.

Without Sam Kerr, Australia still managed to defeat Republic of Ireland 1-0 in their opening group game, stand-in skipper Steph Catley stepped up to score the winner from the spot in Sydney.

Australia will reach the knock-out round with victory over Nigeria who battled to a goalless draw in their first game on July 21.

Unlike his Australian counterpart Tony Gustavsson, the Nigeria Super Falcons Coach , Randy Waldrum will only miss the services of young midfielder Deborah Abiodun following her red card vs Canada.

Nigeria will welcome back Halimatu Ayinde and Rasheedat Ajibade who both missed the game vs Canada.

See Australia vs Nigeria 2023 FIFA Women World Cup Match Preview for more information on the game.