Super Falcons Head Coach Randy Waldrum has assured that his team will thrive to be more efficient and clinical in converting their chances after the 1-0 narrow victory over Cameroon in Abuja.
Nigeria reached the final round of the African qualifying series for this year’s Women’s Olympic Football Tournament 1-0 on aggregate after Esther Okoronkwo’s 15th minute goal.
Waldrum, who hailed the players for the performance, especially Deborah Abiodun, whom he said was fantastic in the midfield noted that they played a bit direct due to the tactics of the opponents.
While expressing full confidence in the players in the team, he however decried the harsh weather conditions saying that he prefers playing under the lights since most of his players are based in Europe.
“I am very excited for the players and country as well. I felt it was a great effort today. We picked up some injuries and had to make some changes. The players that came in did a great job. That’s what you want. You want players to come off the side to give you something.
“I felt Deborah was fantastic in midfield, ball winning, matching the physicality of the team. Our chances we created was good. When we lost patience, we played a little bit more direct because it is not the way we want to play.
“The weather here is hard. The players here in Nigeria are used to it. Most of them are playing in Europe. They haven’t played in this field in a while. I would always preferred night game. My preference is always under the lights.
“We have confidence in every player. We have players that didn’t play any minutes. They are fully capable of helping us. In both matches we had many opportunities to finish it off and not make it difficult at the end. I think that’s where we have to get better where we had two breakaways, we scored two goals. We have to be more efficient and clinical around the goal. I will be more concerned if we aren’t creating more chances.”
The final round fixture between nine-time champions of Africa, Nigeria and reigning African champions South Africa will be played in April.
