As more and more praises showers on the never give up spirit of the Super Falcons by Nigerians keep pouring in on the ladies, this time the head coach has cheered his side as they prepare for the third place finish against Zambia
The Nigeria’s Women National Team head Coach Randy Waldrum has hipped praises on his players, after a heartbreaking semi-final defeat to Morocco at the ongoing Women’s African Cup of Nations.
The ninth time champions were aiming for their tenth WAFCON championship, a record that set it as the most successful team in the continent
Randy Waldrum watched his girls fight gallantly against the hosts, who had record crowd of 45,000 at the Prince Moulay Abdallah, behind them.
But, despite having two players sent off and enduring the wave of Moroccan attack for fifty minutes with the numerical disadvantage. Their fight earned them huge praise from fans across the country.
With the game level at 1-1 in the regular time, the Falcons in the 110th minute nearly shock the home crowd as Monday Gift’s shot came off the crossbar.
Extra time finished with the score still deadlocked at 1-1, penalty shootout was then required to decide the titanic clash.
In the shootout, every Nigerian spot kick was accompanied by whistles and boos of the Moroccans.
The Nigeria Penalty miss
There was hysteria in the stadium when Moroccan goalkeeper Khadijah Errmichi’s stopped Ifeoma Onumonu’s penalty.
It was the only miss of the shootout as Morocco emerged 5-4 victors.
We tried to win, we tried everything. When you are outnumbered, it is logical that you start to defend. We held on, but in the end its football, Randy Waldrum said.
Nigeria will shift focus to the losers’ final against Zambia on Friday at the Stade Mohammed V in Casablanca.
The Super Falcons had already booked their place in the upcoming FIFA World Cup next year in Australia after sailing pass the Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon.