Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Guardian Nigeria
Published on 2024-04-07 03:55:35
The head coach of the Super Falcons, Randy Waldrum, recently explained why the female African footballer of the year and Bay FC of United States striker, Asissat Oshoala, did not play in the team’s Olympic qualifier against the Banyana Banyana of South Africa. The Super Falcons managed to secure a narrow victory over the South African team thanks to a penalty goal from Rasheedat Ajibade in the 43rd minute. During the post-match conference, Waldrum revealed that Oshoala had arrived late to camp and was suffering from jet lag, which is why she did not feature in the game. He mentioned that he would evaluate her fitness level to determine whether she would play in the upcoming match scheduled for Tuesday in Pretoria, South Africa.
“It was unfortunate that we did not score more goals in a match that we dominated defensively,” Waldrum expressed. “I believe we were unlucky not to have a larger victory margin, but I commend the team for their performance. Our defense did well, especially with some new players in the backline due to the absence of key players like Ashleigh Plumptre and Tosin Demehim. The back four held their ground, and we limited the number of clear scoring opportunities for South Africa.”
Looking ahead to the return leg at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria, Waldrum emphasized the importance of securing a positive result to qualify for the Olympics. The Falcons have missed out on the past three editions of the Games and are keen to make a comeback this time around. As they prepare to face Banyana Banyana on Tuesday, there is still much at stake for both teams.
While the South African team returned to Johannesburg the morning after the match, the Super Falcons are set to depart from Lagos later in the evening. The upcoming game in Pretoria presents an opportunity for the Falcons to redeem themselves and secure their spot at the Olympics, a goal that the team has been working towards for several years.
In conclusion, despite the challenges faced by the Super Falcons in their recent match against Banyana Banyana, Coach Waldrum remains optimistic about their chances in the return leg. With a strong defensive performance and a determined attitude, the Falcons are ready to give their all to achieve their goal of qualifying for the Olympics.
