Women’s World Cup: Waldrum banks on Nigeria’s strength as he targets England upset
Super Falcons of Nigeria Head Coach Randy Waldrum has revealed he is banking on the strength and athleticism of his players to upset England in the Women’s World Cup last-16 clash.
Nigeria take on England in one of eight 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup last-16 matches at the Lang Park in Brisbane, Australia on Monday August 7.
Ahead of the match, Randy Waldrum is optimistic his players physical ability will unsettle the overwhelmingly tipped favourites England.
” The one difference between us and China is that they don’t have our speed and our strength,” the American Coach told reporters.
” China were organised, but England were too powerful and played around them.
“We will have to use our strengths to neutralise England.”
On how prepared the Super Falcons players are for the game, Waldrum thinks the Nigerian ladies are up to it and believe they can go past the challenging English opposition.
” The match against England will be another challenge, but I think the players are up to it,” he added.
” We’re playing the European champions and they are champions for a reason. They are a good team, we know that and we respect that.
“They are extremely talented, Lucy Bronze and Rachel Daly on the flanks, the way Lauren James is playing and creating all sorts of havoc upfront, Ruso is playing, the whole group.
“But the players know that we played the Olympic Gold medalists (Canada) and Australia, two top 10 teams in the world. They won’t be intimidated by the moment.
“They will give you everything they have. They will come out against England.
“We believe we can get a result.
“Now is the time to go and perform.” Randy Waldrum concluded.
The Round of 16 games of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup will begin on Saturday August 5 and run till August 8, as the group stage survivors battle for a spot in the last-8.
There are three African Countries in that number all seeking to equal the continents best performance at a FIFA Women’s World Cup, a quater-final finish by Nigeria’s Super Falcons in 1999.
