There was a lot of unknown as the Super Falcons of Nigeria prepared to face Canada in their 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup Group B opener in Melbourne in the early hours of Friday morning.
The motivation level of the team was in question after the back and forth that ensued between coach Randy Waldrum and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) over owing the American tactician and his backroom staff backlog of salaries, and preparations towards the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand not deemed enough. Not also forgetting the players reportedly owed bonuses that the global governing body FIFA paid out.
????FULL TIME! in Melbourne ????
Nigeria ???????? 0-0 Canada ????????
We made a brave start to our ninth campaign on the global stage with a draw against the Olympics champions despite finishing the encounter with 10 players in Melbourne ????#NGACAN #FIFAWWC #SoarSuperFalcons pic.twitter.com/FZikeh90Sz
— NGSuper_Falcons (@NGSuper_Falcons) July 21, 2023
It also seemed the match was not going to go ahead with reports of a planned boycott by the players. None of that however materialised as the game ended in a 0-0 draw much to the relief of the Falcons that finished the match with 10 women while the Canadians would have wished to use their tag as outright favourites to good effect.
The game looked like the Canadians were going for the kill as Nigeria maintained a defensive shape for large parts of the game, especially in the first half. The reality however is that the Falcons were slightly the better side with the best chances in the opening half. The downside is that they failed to be clinical in front of goal.
They grew into the game in the second, especially after woman-of-the-match and goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie saved all-time record international goalscorer Christine Sinclair’s penalty in the 50th minute. The Falcons were in the ascendancy but did not use it to good effect.
???????????? ????????????????.#FIFAWWC | #BeyondGreatness pic.twitter.com/2z52idOSm2
— FIFA Women's World Cup (@FIFAWWC) July 21, 2023
Canada might be ranked 33 places above Nigeria but the match was there for the taking for Waldrum’s ladies. There might have been three absentees in Desire Oparanozie through injury and Rasheedat Ajibade and Halimatu Ayinde via suspension but the Falcons showed they could move on without some of their best players.
Even Deborah Abiodun’s red card deep in injury time after VAR review did little to dampen the mood of the players in seeing the game through with a point. There was simply more that Nigeria could have taken from the match and it is a shame they could not do that.
The midfield was non-existent and the attack was not coordinated well enough. Had that been the case, the Super Falcons would have most likely bagged a commanding victory over the Canadians and sent a statement to the rest of the teams at the World Cup.
Now they face a tough task of getting a victory against Australia next Thursday in Brisbane to keep their hopes of progressing to the knockout phase alive. The Matildas need a win to secure their own place in the next round after defeating the Republic of Ireland in their opener on Thursday and will be rallying behind home support to get it done even though captain and star player Sam Kerr will not be available as she nurses a calf injury.
Today's star, @Nadoziechiamaka! ????#BeyondGreatness | #FIFAWWC
— FIFA Women's World Cup (@FIFAWWC) July 21, 2023
The Super Falcons must play better collectively because that will potentially take them far at this World Cup. Relying on the individual brilliance of players can be very damning as one player failing to turn up could mean the team switches off and is bereft of ideas.
Nigeria might have survived Canada, but that might not be the same story when they face Australia or a higher-ranked side like the United States, England, Spain and Germany. The ball is in the court of Waldrum and his ladies to make the necessary adjustments before the next match, otherwise an early flight back home beckons.
