The Super Falcons, Nigeria’s national women’s soccer team, is gearing up for the FIFA Women’s World Cup to be co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand this summer. The team failed to make the podium at the 12th Women Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco last year, which marked the first time in many years the Super Falcons didn’t place in the top three. However, head coach Randy Waldrum is optimistic that his team will perform well at the global tournament.
“The first target for us at the World Cup is to advance out of the group stage,” Waldrum told thenff.com. “Everyone wants to get to the knockout stage, but obviously in order to achieve that, you have to advance out of the group. And now, our focus is principally on doing that.”
The Super Falcons’ fourth-place finish at the 12th Women Africa Cup of Nations was seen as a disappointment by many, as the team had won nine of the previous 11 editions of the competition. The Falcons lost to eventual champions South Africa in the opening match and then lost to host nation Morocco in the semi-finals via penalty shootout, with two key players receiving red cards.
The team will tackle Olympic champions Canada, co-hosts Australia, and Republic of Ireland in the group stage of the tournament, which begins on July 20. The Falcons will be based in Brisbane, where they will play two of their three group stage matches, with the other game taking place in Melbourne.
Nigeria is one of only seven countries that have never failed to qualify for the FIFA Women’s World Cup since the competition began 32 years ago in China. This year, the tournament will welcome 32 teams, the same number as the men’s tournament. The Super Falcons will be looking to improve their performance from the last Africa Cup of Nations and have a better performance in the World cup and make their country proud
