2023 Women’s World Cup: Super Falcons Of Nigeria Coach Is Scared

Super Falcons head coach, Randy Waldrum has described his team’s first two games in the forthcoming Women’s World Cup as “scary”.

The Super Falcons of Nigeria are in Group B which many have described as the hardest group in the 2023 Women’s World Cup according to Randy Waldrum.

Other countries in the group are the tournament’s co-hosts Australia, the reigning Olympic champions Canada, and the Republic of Ireland.

The Super Falcons will kick off their campaign in the tournament against Canada at 03:30 on July 21, after that, they will take on the co-hosts at 11:00 on July 27. Nigeria’s last group game in the tournament is against the Republic of Ireland at 11:00 on July 31.

Ahead of the Women’s World Cup, coach Randy Waldrum who led the Super Falcons to finish 4th in the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco last year, said all the games in the group stage will be challenging for his team.

“It’s scary, to be honest. Our first two games are brutal,” Waldrum told FIFA.com.

“Many people have our group ranked as the hardest in the World Cup. The other three teams are all ranked in the top 25 in the world. They all pose different kinds of problems.

“Just like Canada, Australia has so, so many stars. They have Sam Kerr leading the line and a host of really, really talented players behind her. And if that’s not going to be hard enough, they’re the host nation, so we’ve got a lot to overcome.

“It’s going to be a very, very big challenge for us. Obviously, as a coach, I look forward to these challenges and I think our players also will, but clearly, it will be very difficult for us. Look at Australia’s recent performances. They’re handling strong opposition pretty easily. Australia are flying right now and, in a World Cup at home, they’re sure to be flying.”

Note that the 2023 Women’s World Cup will commence on July 20 and end on August 20. Australia and New Zealand are the host nations.

Ahead of the tournament, the Super Falcons will play a friendly with Haiti at 15:00 on Friday, April 7, and then against New Zealand at 14:00 on April 11.