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Tag: Super Falcons

  • Nigeria’s Super Falcons improving ahead of World Cup – Coach Waldrum

    Nigeria’s Super Falcons improving ahead of World Cup – Coach Waldrum

    Super Falcons of Nigeria head coach, Randy Waldrum has posited that his side is improving greatly ahead of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup scheduled to hold in Australia and New Zealand.

    The West Africans defeated World Cup co-hosts New Zealand 3-0 in a friendly on Tuesday.

    The Nigerian ladies have now won their last three games against Costa Rica, Haiti and New Zealand.

    Waldrum reflected on the game in an interview with NFFTV.

    “Probably still a ‘B’ (grade) for the team, we got three goals and a clean sheet, maybe I guess am a little harsh with that grade, but there are still so many things we can improve on,” Waldrum said.

    “We have got better and better, that’s what we need leading up to the World Cup.”

    The Super Falcons are drawn in Group B at the World Cup with Australia, Canada and the Republic of Ireland.

  • Int’l Friendly: Okoronkwo, Oshoala score as Super Falcons beat Haiti 2-1

    Int’l Friendly: Okoronkwo, Oshoala score as Super Falcons beat Haiti 2-1

     

    Nigeria’s Super Falcons defeated Oceanian side Haiti by 2-1 with goals from Esther Okoronkwo and Asisat Oshoala in both halves.

    Although Oshoala’s 22nd-minute goal was chalked off for offside she still managed to get on the scoresheet.

    In the 28th minute,  Atletico Madrid star, Rasheedat Ajibade aimed for the goal but her well-struck shot hit the woodwork.

    The Super Falcons’ breakthrough came five minutes before the break with Esther Okoronkwo hitting the net with a powerful free-kick.

    The scoreline stood at 1-0 until the end of the first half.

    The Super Falcons took total control of the game after the break pinning the Haitians to their half.

    Oshoala added the second from a goal-mouth scramble two minutes before the hour mark.

    Not wanting to be disgraced, the Haitians came out of their shell and nearly pulled a goal back but goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie produced a superb save to deny them.

    The Haitians profited from a defensive mixup to pull one back 15 minutes from time.

    The Haitians piled pressure on the Super Falcons afterward but failed to find a breakthrough.

    Nnadozie made a double save to deny the Haitians a minute from time.

    The nine-time African champions will take on New Zealand in another friendly next week Tuesday.

  • FIFA Rankings: Super Falcons move up three places, maintain top spot in Africa

    FIFA Rankings: Super Falcons move up three places, maintain top spot in Africa

    Super Falcons of Nigeria  have moved up three places in the latest women’s ranking released by the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) on Friday.

    Nigeria was ranked 45th in the previous ranking released in December but have now moved up 3 places to the 42nd position.

    Super Falcons are ranked number one in Africa.

    The Super Falcons were last in action in February when they participated in a four-nation invitational tournament tagged Revelation Cup.

    The West Africans won one game and lost twice in three outings.

    The Super Falcons are expected to regroup next month to engage Haiti and New Zealand in friendlies in Antalya, Turkey.

    The next FIFA/Coca-Cola Women’s World Ranking will be published on June 9, 2023.

  • Super Falcons beat Costa Rica 1-0 to end seven-match winless run

    Super Falcons beat Costa Rica 1-0 to end seven-match winless run

    The Super Falcons of Nigeria ended their Revelations Cup adventure on a positive note after defeating Costa Rica 1-0 at the Estadio León in León de los Aldamas in the early hours of Wednesday.

    New girl, Esther Okoronkwo scored Nigeria’s only goal in the encounter to give Nigeria its first win first time in about a year.

    The Nigerian ladies had lost their first two games at the tourney to host Mexico and later Colombia by same scoreline 1-0.

    Down and out without a chance of winning the tournament’s trophy, the former African champions finally brought their A-game to the table against Costa Rica’s Las Ticas.

    Dominating their opponents with their physicality and intelligence, Nigeria missed several goalscoring chances before the breakthrough arrived on the stroke of halftime.

    Young midfielder Jennifer Onyi Echegini, who had been involved in a lot of Nigeria’s fine attacking play, wriggled her way to the baseline before sending a cross to the back post, where Esther Okoronkwo lurked.

    Okoronkwo steadied herself with a composed first touch before curling the ball past the goalkeeper into the far post.

    The result meant the Super Falcons had halted a winless run after losing its last 7 games under coach Randy Waldrum.

     

  • Super Falcons lose 0-1 to Mexico at Revelation Cup

    Super Falcons lose 0-1 to Mexico at Revelation Cup

    The Super Falcons on Wednesday at the ongoing Revelation Cup tournament lost 0-1 to hosts Mexico.

    The game played at the Leon Stadium was part of their preparations for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in August.

    The Nigerian senior women football team tried to create goalscoring opportunities through Rasheedat Ajibade and Ifeoma Onumonu, but they were unable to turn them into goals.

    In the 85th minute however, Kiana Palacios broke the deadlock to score the only goal of the game.

    Nigeria will face Columbia on Saturday in their second match of the tournament, before meeting Costa Rica on Tuesday.

  • FIFA Women’s World Cup: Glut of talented players, vertical movements excite Waldrum

    FIFA Women’s World Cup: Glut of talented players, vertical movements excite Waldrum

    Head Coach Randy Waldrum has reflected that there is an abundance of talented players in the Nigeria senior women squad, Super Falcons, as the nine-time African champions continue their preparations for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup finals in Australia and New Zealand this summer.

    Each passing week, the Super Falcons squad seems to be bolstered, with a number of young talents making waves in Europe and other parts of the world. Such is the strength of the Nigeria senior women national team that many football strategists and enthusiasts, including Waldrum, have been pondering how the team will file out at the biggest stage come July.

    The American tactician, while speaking with thenff.com exuded excitement and optimism with the surge of new talents emerging from within and outside the country in recent times and is optimistic of a good outing at the World Cup. He also lauded the efforts of the NFF in getting quality friendly matches and tournaments for the team, such as the Revelation Cup coming up in Mexico this month.

    “I think the current Super Falcons squad is loaded with so many talented players. There are a lot of players that have much to offer in the team and I am reasonably excited and hopeful,” Waldrum told thenff.com

    “Asisat Oshoala is in great form and we all know what she is capable of. When you add players like Desire Oparanozie, who is also very much in the mix, as well as Ifeoma Onumonu, Rasheedat Ajibade and Esther Okoronkwo, no doubt, we have so many effective weapons offensively.

    “I am confident that we can build something special with this squad. We have also got some bright players like Rofiat Imuran coming in, in her twenties, same with Tosin Demehin, to go along with experienced players like Osinachi Ohale. Ashleigh Plumptre has also been a great addition for us at the back. I think I love the strength of the team; it’s just about getting the best eleven to play on the pitch.”

    Waldrum believes transfers to bigger clubs and leagues involving some players would also move up the confidence needle for the players as they prepare to square up with the very best players globally in Australia and New Zealand.

    The Super Falcons will participate in the first edition of the Women’s Revelation Cup, holding from the 15th – 21st February in the city of Leon, Guanajuato, Mexico.

    The Nigeria senior women squad will play against the women national teams of Mexico, Colombia and Costa Rica in the six- day preparatory tournament for the FIFA Women’s World Cup.

  • FIFA Women’s World Cup: Waldrum says Super Falcons can emulate Class of ‘99

    FIFA Women’s World Cup: Waldrum says Super Falcons can emulate Class of ‘99

    Super Falcons Head Coach, Randy Waldrum has reiterated the confidence he has in the present Super Falcons as they gear up for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

    The Super Falcons got a spot in the mundial after defeating Cameroon’s Lionesses in the quarter finals of the 12th Women Africa Cup of Nations finals in Morocco last summer, with Rasheedat Ajibade scoring the crucial goal to earn a semi-final spot and the ticket to Australia/New Zealand. It meant the Falcons have made through to all editions of the FIFA Women’s World Cup – a record shared with only six other teams globally.

    In a chat with thenff.com, Waldrum said he believes that the present crop of Super Falcons is capable of emulating the 1999 set, and match their predecessors’ feat of a quarter-final place at the global finals.

    The Class of 1999 led by Florence Omagbemi defeated North Korea 2-1 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena with goals from Mercy Akide and Rita Nwadike, before losing 1-7 to the USA despite taking a second-minute lead through Nkiru Okosieme.

    Defeat to the Americans in Chicago stirred something in Africa’s lone flag-bearer at the first FIFA Women’s World Cup to feature 16 teams.

    In their next match, the Super Falcons flew past Denmark 2-0 at the Jack Kent Cooke Stadium near Washington DC, the goals coming from Mercy Akide and Nkiru Okosieme.

    In the quarter finals, at the same venue, the Nigerian girls stormed back from three goals down to Brazil in the first half to tie the game 3-3, with Prisca Emeafu, Nkiru Okosieme and Nkechi Egbe the scorers, before Brazil won in extra-time, in what was the very first time a women’s competitive game was decided by the golden goal. This was after 104 minutes.

    “I am confident and realistic about this. We have an abundance of talents in the squad and I am convinced they can go that far. This particular team is very talented and has the same ability to go far in the tournament, just like the Class of 1999.

    “To be able to achieve this and even more, we need to have all players in fit condition, healthy and most importantly have enough time together. If we have enough time together, we have the ability to be successful at the World Cup,” Waldrum said.

    The Super Falcons have been drawn alongside Olympic champions Canada, co-hosts Australia and Republic of Ireland in Group B of the 9th FIFA Women’s World Cup finals, and will play all their group phase matches in Australia – one in Melbourne and two in Brisbane.

  • Super Falcons striker, Asisat Oshoala mocks Chelsea on Twitter

    Super Falcons striker, Asisat Oshoala mocks Chelsea on Twitter

    Super Falcons striker,  Asisat Oshoala has mocked Chelsea players and fans following their disappointing 2-1 loss to Fulham in the Premier League on Thursday night.

    It’s not been rosy for the Stamford Bridge side in recent times after losing its last three games and could only manage just one win in the last ten games.

    Chelsea are presently locked on the 10th position on the log and risk missing out of continental competitions for next season.

    Willian scored the opener for Fulham in the 25th minute before Koulibaly restored parity for Chelsea in the 47th minute. Carlos Vinicius netted the winner for the hosts in the 73rd minute as Chelsea suffered another loss.

    After the game, Oshoala expressed happiness on Twitter to see Chelsea losing the game and took jibes at all their fans.

    Her Tweet reads ”Normally Chelsea fans no deserve happiness and they know it, no peace for the wicked.” Meanwhile, Chelsea are currently occupying 10th position on the Premier League table with 25 points after 18 games.

     

  • FIFA World Cup: Reaching the knockout stage is our primary target – Waldrum

    FIFA World Cup: Reaching the knockout stage is our primary target – Waldrum

    After the disappointment of failing to make the dream of La Decima (The Tenth) come true at the 12th Women Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in staged by Morocco last year – the Super Falcons even failing to make the podium for the first time in many years – Head Coach Randy Waldrum is optimistic of an impressive performance at the forthcoming FIFA Women’s World Cup finals coming up in Australia & New Zealand in the summer.

    The American tactician is full of optimism, and is confident that his team can go far in the global tournament, but insists they have to take it one step at a time to achieve greatness.

    “The first target for us at the World Cup is to advance out of the group stage,” Waldrum told the thenff.com.

    “Everyone wants to get to the knockout stage but obviously in order to achieve that, you have to advance out of the group,

    and now, our focus is principally on doing that.”

    The Super Falcons survived a huge scare at the 12th Women Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. Even though the team finished in fourth place, thereby picking the last automatic ticket from Africa to Australia & New Zealand, Nigerians saw it as a disappointing outing, and rightly so. For a team that had won nine of the previous 11 editions of the competition, losing three out of its six matches in Morocco was seen as a disaster.

    The team lost to eventual champions South Africa narrowly in the opening match, and then lost to the host nation Morocco via the lottery of penalty shootout in the semi finals – with two key players red-carded. As it turned out, the Falcons failed to overcome the set-back as they eventually lost to Zambia in the third-place match by a lone goal.

    Waldrum would want to quickly wipe out such an unflattering record with a better and improved performance by the most successful women’s team in Africa at the forthcoming World Cup to be co-hosted Down Under.

    Nigeria will tackle Olympic champions Canada, co-hosts Australia and Republic of Ireland in the group stage of the biggest FIFA Women’s World Cup finals ever, in group B of the tournament that begins on 20th July. Australia & New Zealand 2023 is the first time that the FIFA Women’s World Cup will welcome 32 teams – the same number as the men’s tournament.

    The Falcons will be domiciled in Brisbane where they will play two of their three matches, with the other game in another Australian city, Melbourne.

    Nigeria is in the elite group of only seven countries that have never failed to qualify for the FIFA Women’s World Cup since the competition was launched in China 32 years ago.

  • Oshoala receives pinchichi award for last season

    Oshoala receives pinchichi award for last season

    Super Falcons and Barcelona of Spain  forward, Asisat Oshoala has officially received the Pichichi award for finishing as the top scorer in the Spanish Iberdrola last season 2020/21.

    Oshoala scored 20 goals for Barcelona Femeni in the Spanish women’s football league to emerge the highest goal scorer of  last season.

    Oshoala was pictured smiling upon receiving the trophy in Spain on Wednesday.

    The lanky female soccer star featured 19 times for Barcelona Femeni last season.

    The former Arsenal star shared the award with Madrid CFF’s Geyse da Silva Ferreira.

    Geyse, a Brazilian is now her teammate at Barcelona after linking up with the Blaugurana in the summer.

    Oshoala is the first African female  to scoop the coveted  award.