WOMEN'S FOOTBALL
Waldrum on why Ireland will present a new challenge for Super Falcons
With the clock ticking down to the kick-off of Nigeria’s last Group B match against eliminated Republic of Ireland in the ongoing Women’s World Cup, Nigeria’s coach, Randy Waldrum has been speaking on the match.
“This game is a little bit different for us. Coming from the US, I knew Canada very well and have even coached quite a few of those players over the years. I knew how they were going to play and making the game plan was a little easier. We scouted Australia for a while and knew what their strengths were.
“Ireland have done extremely well in this tournament. Even though they are eliminated, they played two very good matches and were probably a little bit unlucky not to get a result against Canada.
“They are a top-20 team [in the FIFA/Coca-Cola Women’s World Ranking] and we’re 40th. A lot of people may go into the match thinking, ‘You’ve got those results against Canada and Australia, so this should be an easier game’.
“It’s really quite the opposite because Ireland played those first two teams a certain way –they had to defend a lot and pick their chances to counter. I have a feeling they are going to be much more offensive against us because there’s nothing to lose for them now. So, I don’t know if I can prepare [Nigeria’s strategy] from what I’ve seen in their first
On what he wants to see from Nigeria in the game and Ireland’s main threats…
“I hope it’s a match where we continue to grow our confidence. I thought we were better in the second match [against Australia] in controlling more parts of the game. I would hope we would have more of the ball in this match and we can attack a little more than we have in the first two games.
“Ireland are also very good on the counter, though. They are good in wide areas and like to get the ball in the box from there or win corners. They have a couple of special players.
“I think Katie McCabe is fantastic and Denise O’Sullivan played for me at Houston Dash. I know her well and she’s a very good player.”
On his team’s approach knowing a draw will be enough to qualify…
“We’re looking for a win as that could see us finish top of the table. I know the 1999 team were very successful [Nigeria reached the Women’s World Cup quarter-finals at that tournament] and we’ve got out of the group stage twice in our history, but I don’t know that any team has had this kind of competition in the group before.
“It would be unprecedented to win the group, so three points would be great. But honestly, I’d be quite happy to get one and advance. It’s just such a difficult group with three tough teams. I’ll take a draw if that’s the result we get. ”
On what it would mean to progress to the last 16…
“We’ve worked really hard to get to this point. We have to be professional enough to see it through.
“As a coach, I know there are no guarantees. Before the tournament, I’m not sure I could honestly have said I thought we’d be at the top of the group at this stage. I always felt we’d have the talent to advance out of the group but they’ve even exceeded my expectations. Now we’re here, we have to do what good teams do – we have to learn to finish the job.”
Despite wintry conditions in Blida, on the outskirts of the Algerian capital, Algiers, Nigeria’s U17 girls dug their feet into the ground on Friday night.
They achieved a scoreless draw that qualified them for this year’s FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup finals.
Holding on to a 4-0 first-leg advantage, the 2002 bronze medallists adopted a calm and collected pattern that easily soaked up the expected pressure from the hosts and then relied on fast breaks to try and pull the trigger on their opponents.
Although they created better chances on the night, the Flamingos failed to make dominance in possession pay, but swiftly collected the ticket to Morocco on a 4-0 aggregate win.
The difference over two legs of the final round was a remarkable display in the opening leg by the Flamingos, during which a brace by Queen Joseph and one each by Zainab Raji and substitute Aisha Animashaun ensured a 4-0 win.
The Flamingos will now be one of Africa’s five representatives (including hosts Morocco) at this year’s FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup finals taking place from 17th October – 5th November. The final competition will entertain 24 teams for the very first time.
Since the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup competition was launched in New Zealand in 2008, Nigeria have failed to make the finals only once – the 2018 tournament hosted by Uruguay.
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WOMEN'S FOOTBALL
Despite heavy first leg loss, Algeria hopeful of a turnaround in Nigeria’s Flamingos clash
The Algeria U17 women’s national team still hope for a possible turnaround in this Friday night clash with Nigeria’s Flamingos.
Algeria lost 4-0 in the first leg match in Ikenne last Saturday.
The Algerians completed their preparations on Thursday at the Sidi Moussa National Technical Centre, the eve of the return match against Nigeria.
The return match is scheduled for this Friday at 8 p.m. at the Mustapha Tchaker Stadium in Blida. Aggregate winners will pick a ticket to the FIFA U-17 Women’s 2025 World Cup.
According to sources in Algeria, all the players took part in the final session, during which coach Abdenour Mira finalised the tactical details for the make or mar encounter.
Despite the heavy defeat conceded in the first leg (4-0), the young Algerians approach this match with the desire to finish well and deliver an honourable performance against a formidable Nigerian team.
During the technical meeting held early in the afternoon at the FAF headquarters, in the presence of representatives of the two teams and the organisers, it was decided that Algeria will play in green, while Nigeria will wear white.
The match will be officiated by Cameroonian Aline Marie Noelle Guimbang, assisted by her compatriot Laurie Marcelle Tsafack Teikeu and Chadian Victorine Ngarassoum.
The fourth official will also be Cameroonian, Innoncentia Njang Ntangti.
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WOMEN'S FOOTBALL
Under possible cold weather in Blida, Nigeria’s Flamingos set to grab World Cup ticket
The weather is most likely to be cold, but Nigeria’s U17 girls, Flamingos, are set to continue a tradition of qualifying for every edition of the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup, which has had eight editions, out of which the Flamingos featured in seven.
Only Japan, with 100 per cent attendance, has featured in more competitions than Nigeria’s Flamingos.
They look poised to feature again after a 4-0 defeat of Algeria in the first leg of the final qualifying series.
Apart from their opponents, Algeria, they have the expected cold weather to battle with at the Stade Mustapha Tchaker in Blida (outside Algiers), on Friday night.
Friday’s encounter against their Algerian counterparts is the final leg of a final qualifying round fixture, with the Flamingos, bronze-medallists from the 2022 finals in India and quarterfinalists from the last edition in the Dominican Republic, holding on to a 4-0 first-leg advantage.
The Federation Algerienne de Football (FAF) has scheduled the match to kick off at 8 pm, at a time when the winds will begin to blow in stronger from the Mediterranean Sea.
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