Nigeria’s female national team, Super Falcons have set a target for back-to-back victories at the ongoing Turkey Women’s Cup, as the coach, Randy Waldrum and his players are talking tough ahead of their battle Uzbekistan on Saturday.
Megasportsarena.com reports that Waldrum and his players enter the game in buoyant mood, following their 1-0 win over CSKA Moscow of Russia women’s club on Thursday, and the American tactician believes his wards can consolidate on that result with another victory.
While Nigeria’s most enterprising player on the evening was Spain-based Antoniette ‘Toni’ Payne, the African champions’ lone goal came in the 18th minute, when China-based Chiwendu Ihezuo tapped home a low cross by Francisca Ordega.
The Falcons dominated the game and created several chances but captain of the side, Asisat Oshoala, from Barcelona of Spain, as well as Ordega and Payne failed to convert them into goals.
Oshoala later got a booking in the 15th minute and, though Ordega was a thorn in the flesh for the opponents, the nine-time African champions failed to make their dominance count, such that the Russian club almost got an equaliser in the second half, if not for a quick interception by battling midfielder, Halimat Ayinde.
Patricia George and Payne made their Falcons’ debuts in the game played at Emir Sports Complex and was the first match for Waldrum, who is now looking forward to getting a better result against Uzbekistan on Saturday before playing Equatorial Guinea in their final group match come Monday.
It will also be a chance for 25-year-old Payne to make a bigger impact as the USA-born star, who scored seven goals in her first season in Spain and has now netted twice in 20 appearances for Sevilla Fameni failed to score in 90 minutes of action against CSKA.
Saturday’s game versus Uzbekistan promises to be tougher, as the East Europeans lead the group, after they thrashed Equatorial Guinea 5-0 in their opening group game Wednesday, but Waldrum is enthusiastic of a resounding result for his team.
Waldrum declared: “The game was a hard one, but we can take positives from it and also we have some areas we need to improve upon. Personally to get a win as coach of Nigeria, I’m pleased, excited and proud of the players.
“In the first half, we were much better in terms of ball possession and movement, but in the second half, we were kind of lost a little bit, we committed fouls, but I think that after some time it’s something we will work and improve upon.
“It’s a good start. I’m pretty pleased overall considering the fact that the team have not been together for over a year and with my first training with them I was pleased to get the result.”
