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Super Falcons coach, Randy Waldrum, expressed his belief that his team was unfortunate in their round of 16 encounter against England in Brisbane.
Despite the sending-off of Lauren James, England managed to narrowly defeat Nigeria on penalties this Monday. Chloe Kelly secured the victory for England with a winning penalty in Brisbane, as they overcame the Super Falcons 4-2 in the shootout following a tense last-16 match that ended 0-0 after extra time.
Reflecting on the game in a post-match interview, the American coach expressed disappointment over the squandered opportunities against the Lionesses.
“We had ample chances to secure the outcome, yet regrettably, we were unable to capitalize on them,” lamented Waldrum.
“I believe we could have clinched victory within the standard 90 minutes. Our team created the finest opportunities, striking the crossbar twice during regulation play. It’s fair to say luck was not entirely on our side, depriving us of a deserved outcome.
While Nigeria’s remarkable journey in the Women’s World Cup might have concluded, the determination exhibited by our players caught the attention of the global football community. Despite the end result, the 56-year-old coach emphasized that our performances compelled the world to recognize our impact.”
“They’ve been exceptional throughout the entire tournament,” he remarked.
“After the match, I mentioned to them that we haven’t genuinely lost a game (excluding the penalty shootout).
“We’ve competed against the Olympic gold medalists (Canada) and the European champions (England), maintaining clean sheets in both of those encounters.”
“We played the host nation (Australia) and Ireland, who are in the top 20, and we didn’t lose.”
Waldrum emphasized the notable performances of Nigeria, as well as those by South Africa and Morocco, shedding light on the prowess of African football.
“South Africa’s remarkable performance in their recent run, demonstrated by their ability to pose significant challenges to the Netherlands, has truly showcased the potential of African football,” he remarked.
He expressed his hope that the global audience would recognize the significance of football in Africa and acknowledge the talent present in the continent. With proper organization, structure, and resource allocation, Waldrum believed that Africa had the potential to establish a significant presence on the world football stage.
Waldrum underscored the importance of maintaining the momentum Nigeria had built in Australia and stressed the need to continue progressing upon returning to Nigeria.
“It is crucial that we do not let this success go to waste, but instead, maintain our forward momentum upon our return to Nigeria,” the coach emphasized.
Waldrum envisioned hosting the next Women’s World Cup in South Africa as a pivotal step towards advancing the growth of the sport within the continent.
“The opportunity to host the next Women’s World Cup in South Africa could prove transformative for football in Africa,” he noted. “Such an environment, akin to what we have experienced in Australia, would immensely benefit aspiring young women footballers across all nations.”
The first half in Brisbane was intense, with Nigeria dominating play. Michelle Alozie’s powerful header was met with an equally robust clearance by Alessia Russo. Former Leicester defender Ashleigh Plumptre struck the crossbar with an impressive shot, and her subsequent attempt was deflected away by Mary Earps.
In the quarter-finals, England is set to face either Colombia or Jamaica on Saturday, having navigated a challenging path to this stage.”
