Waldrum predicts bright future for team as Nigerians rue missed opportunity
Although Nigeria’s dream of playing in the quarterfinals of the ongoing FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand died on the streets of Brisbane yesterday, as Super Falcons lost via penalties to Three Lionesses of England, fans of the team, including First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, have risen in unison to applaud the gallant girls.
Not many gave the Nigerians a chance of holding the much-fancied England to standstill for 120 minutes, but the Falcons had everything needed to win the game, except goals.
England won the game with Nigeria losing their first two penalty kicks through Desire Oparanozie and Michelle Alozie, while the Three Lionesses scored their first four to win 4-2.
Speaking on the game, Senator Tinubu, who commended the Although Nigeria’s dream of playing in the quarterfinals of the ongoing FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand died on the streets of Brisbane yesterday, as Super Falcons lost via penalties to Three Lionesses of Englands for their superb performance, said she “is very proud of the girls,” who “played their hearts out in the Round of 16 encounter.”
In a statement signed by her Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Busola Kukoyi, the First Lady, who watched the match via television with the wife of the Vice President, Hajia Nana Shettima, and the wife of Senate President, Mrs. Ekaette Akpabio, described the game as a tension-soaked encounter, saying the Nigerian girls were no pushovers.
“The only thing the England side had going for them was simply luck,” she said, adding that she is “proud of their performance.”
The First Lady told the team that she would be waiting to receive them as true heroes on their return home.
Meanwhile, Super Falcons’ Manager, Randy Waldrum, has praised his girls for their gallant display against England, saying the future belongs to the Falcons.
He said victory over European champions, England, could have had “significant implications” for the development of women’s football in Nigeria, but they can exit the tournament with their heads held high.
The Nigerians more than matched England and carried momentum going into extra time, but just could not provide the ruthlessness that was needed.
While the Super Falcons lament their exit, Three Lionesses celebrate their qualification to the quarterfinals of the ongoing FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand… yesterday.
Waldrum predicts bright future for team as Nigerians rue missed opportunity
Although Nigeria’s dream of playing in the quarterfinals of the ongoing FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand died on the streets of Brisbane yesterday, as Super Falcons lost via penalties to Three Lionesses of England, fans of the team, including First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, have risen in unison to applaud the gallant girls.
Not many gave the Nigerians a chance of holding the much-fancied England to standstill for 120 minutes, but the Falcons had everything needed to win the game, except goals.
England won the game with Nigeria losing their first two penalty kicks through Desire Oparanozie and Michelle Alozie, while the Three Lionesses scored their first four to win 4-2.
Speaking on the game, Senator Tinubu, who commended the Although Nigeria’s dream of playing in the quarterfinals of the ongoing FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand died on the streets of Brisbane yesterday, as Super Falcons lost via penalties to Three Lionesses of Englands for their superb performance, said she “is very proud of the girls,” who “played their hearts out in the Round of 16 encounter.”
In a statement signed by her Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Busola Kukoyi, the First Lady, who watched the match via television with the wife of the Vice President, Hajia Nana Shettima, and the wife of Senate President, Mrs. Ekaette Akpabio, described the game as a tension-soaked encounter, saying the Nigerian girls were no pushovers.
“The only thing the England side had going for them was simply luck,” she said, adding that she is “proud of their performance.”
The First Lady told the team that she would be waiting to receive them as true heroes on their return home.
Meanwhile, Super Falcons’ Manager, Randy Waldrum, has praised his girls for their gallant display against England, saying the future belongs to the Falcons.
He said victory over European champions, England, could have had “significant implications” for the development of women’s football in Nigeria, but they can exit the tournament with their heads held high.
The Nigerians more than matched England and carried momentum going into extra time, but just could not provide the ruthlessness that was needed.
“(The players) have been fantastic in the tournament,” said Waldrum. “We’ve played four matches, including against the Olympic gold medalists and the European champions and had clean sheets in those games.
“I’m so proud of them. They have such a bright future. The players came together in an unbelievable way. They just played their hearts out and I couldn’t be more proud of them.
“We can be and should be one of the top teams in the world. I think we have shown we’re capable of playing with anybody.”
In the game, which dragged to penalties after 120 minutes of pulsating action, England captain, Millie Bright, made numerous last-ditch blocks, Earps faced more shots in the first half than in any other game under England’s Coach, Sarina Wiegman and Nigeria rattled the Lionesses.
All signs had started to point to a historic Nigeria victory – they were seeking to become the first African nation to win a knockout tie – and even a corner from Stanway floated out of play in a rare break-up of Nigeria possession late in the second half.
But in the end, England found a way, as they so often have under Wiegman, and it was the familiar sight of Kelly – who netted the winning penalty in the shootout victory over Brazil in the Women’s Finalissima and scored the Euro 2022 winner against Germany – who ran away celebrating at the end.
The loss, despite a numerical advantage of 11 women against 10, left many Nigerian fans praising the Super Falcons for being a much better side on the night in Brisbane.
Nigeria enjoyed long spells of possession, dragging England all over the pitch, but the Lionesses found ways of curtailing, resisting the Falcons’ quest for goals.
Earlier in the 16th minute of the game, the Super Falcons hit the woodwork with Ashleigh Plumptre’s shot went just a few inches away.
From that moment, Nigeria’s dynamic midfield and backline proved resolute despite a growing English wave of attacks.
In the 31st minute, the referee awarded a penalty for England, when Rachel Daly was tripped in the box. But after VAR check, the penalty decision was rescinded to the relief of Nigerians.
In the 48th minute, the Super Falcons hit the bar again, this time through Uchenna Kanu’s header, which beat the England’s goalkeeper.
Coach Randy Waldrum brought in Asisat Oshoala for Ifeoma Onumonu in the 58th minute. But the match took a different turn in the 86th minute when Lauren James was sent off by referee Melissa Borjas for an ill-tempered stamp on the back of Michelle Alozie.
With the exit of ‘dangerous’ James, who scored three goals for England in the group stage, the fans thought the Super Falcons had been presented with an opportunity to roast the Three Lionesses. But they failed to convert the chances that came their way.
In the penalty shootout, yesterday, Chloe Kelly scored the decisive spot-kick for the Three Lionesses after Rachel Daly and Alex Greenwood had converted for the European champions.
On the other hand, the duo of Rasheedat Ajibade and Christy Ucheibe were able to score for the Super Falcons, while Desire Oparanozie and Michelle Alozie missed their kicks to hand England the ticket to the quarterfinal. England won 4-2 to seal their spot in the last eight.
Fourth-ranked England will face either Jamaica or Colombia in the quarterfinals in Sydney on Saturday.
In the other game also played yesterday, co-hosts, Australia, defeated Denmark 2-0 yesterday to reach the quarterfinals.
(Courtesy:The Guardian)
