Super Falcons head coach Randy Waldrum has allayed any fears or worries amidst the team’s recent poor performances.
The Nigeria senior women’s team are currently winless in six games, including their recent 1-0 defeat in Revelation Cup against Mexico on Wednesday.
While speaking to the NFF media, the American expressed his disappointment at the results but reiterated that the performances and learning opportunities are what matters the most.
He said: “Well I’m disappointed in those results, but I don’t gauge where we currently are solely on them [the results], because they are a little bit misleading.”
“If you look at the matches we’ve played, they are against the best teams in the world: the United States twice, and we played very well in the second game against them. We played the Olympic Gold Medallist, Canada, twice too and we drew the second game. We’ve also played Japan, another top five team in the world, before coming to Mexico.
“There are so many teams in the world that would also lose to those teams. So, we have to put the level of competition they bring into perspective too. My job is to ensure my players don’t get demoralised by these results and ensure that they learn from playing against these top teams.
“Do not misunderstand me; we want to win; we always want to win once we step out on the field, but for me, our performances in those games are more important than the result. We’ve played five of the best teams in the world in that six-game stretch, and we played well in three of them. So, again, it’s a process,” he concluded.
When quizzed about the recent change in formation and the constant usage of players in positions other than their usual ones, Waldrum highlighted the need for versatility if the team is to be successful going forward.
“Well people need to understand certain things that in other for us to excel at the World Cup, we need to get the best 11 players on the field at all times, that’s the objective,” the 66-year-old said.
“Also, in some positions, like the right wing, we have numerous players. That prompted us to consider other positions on the field where we could play them, or else, we run at a risk sitting someone down or them not making the squad at all.
“I understand the criticism, but that’s the situation we are in, and we have to make use of these games that we have now to experiment against the forthcoming competition. For example, I’m a Manchester United fan, and you can see Luke Shaw doubling up as a left back and a center back these days; he’s never played as the latter before, but when the need comes, you have to be ready for it,” he added.
The former Houston Dash coach continued: “Good players must have the ability to play in multiple positions, and if some of our players are to have a chance of heading to the World Cup, they must adapt to these changes.”
“I implore our fans to look beyond the results and look at the competitions we have been up against, and personally, I think these changes are working as we push to get our final eleven for the upcoming tournament.”
……. Waldrum concludes
🔶 His tactics
🔶 Revelations Cup objective#SoarSuperFalcons|#FIFAWWCprep| #Team9jastrong| #RevelationsCup| #NGACOL /3 pic.twitter.com/D9IhYBMij9— NGSuper_Falcons (@NGSuper_Falcons) February 18, 2023
On the Falcons’ chances of winning the ongoing four-nation Revelation Cup tournament, Waldrum explained that although the team’s chances is reliant on Mexico’s last two games, they also need to win their own games and put themselves in a good spot.
“Obviously, we lost our opening game to Mexico; our focus is on our remaining two games. We need to win those games to have a chance, and then see what the Mexicans finish with.”
“Our major concern is on bettering our performances and improving gradually. We don’t want to put pressure on the players as regards winning the tournament, but rather be better in the next game than in the one before,” Waldrum said.
🚨First Outdoor Training
Earlier today, we underwent first outdoor training session at the
Ciudad Deportiva Impulso EML🏟️ in build up to our first encounter at the inaugural Revelation Cup. #SoarSuperFalcons| #Team9jastrong| #RevelationCup pic.twitter.com/IcgSqbmOtM— NGSuper_Falcons (@NGSuper_Falcons) February 14, 2023
The Falcons underwent a training session on Saturday morning at the Ciudad Deportiva Impulso EML in preparation for their second game against Colombia.
They will be hoping to get their Revelation Cup tournament underway with a win when they face the Las Chicas Superpoderosas later today at the Estadio Leon at 8 pm (WAT).
🚨𝗠𝗔𝗧𝗖𝗛 𝗗𝗔𝗬🚨
⚽️ Nigeria 🇳🇬 🆚 Colombia 🇨🇴
🗓 18 February 2023
⏱ 8:00 pm
🏟 Leon Stadium
🏆 #RevelationsCup #SoarSuperFalcons| #NGACOL| #FIFAWWCprep pic.twitter.com/Hfwp60gvkD— NGSuper_Falcons (@NGSuper_Falcons) February 18, 2023
The Super Falcons have been drawn in Group B of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup with co-hosts Australia, the Republic of Ireland, and Olympic champions Canada.
