₦airaland Forum

We shouldn't go to AWCON to be testing formations or else we will be bundle out without even a world cup ticket

daveP:
Ogbonna is good too, but a challenge to an attacker approaching Goal is what Nicole dares to offer. I still recall Ogbonna’s mistake vs USA. Maybe she was tired. But I think The position isnt fully Nicole’s yet. Okeke is still there as well.

E remain Rita Chikwelu’s position in the squad. I want to see a much younger lady. She’s really done us well for some time, but its time someone benches her imo.

Ogbonna can play in a 3 woman defence, and Nicole can feature as a wingback which would be sweet. The 3142 would be a good one to test this AWCOn.

isan:
We shouldn't go to AWCON to be testing formations or else we will be bundle out without even a world cup ticket

Even at our worst, that would be very hard for the other African teams. In 2018 we weren't at our best even.

mostob:
then why is she finding it difficult to start for us if she has all those qualities

This is not hype and I'm not speaking just because of this shot video Clip but from all the games have watched her play for her College team, you can as well get access to their game videos on YouTube... Experience wise she would be Lacking it because college football isn't at the same level with Playing Pro...

But Nicole Payne is definitely a great player and one for the future...I believe in within a year time she would have secured a regular starting spot for herself...

isan:
We shouldn't go to AWCON to be testing formations or else we will be bundle out without even a world cup ticket

just few teams can test our experimenting of formation. And it has never been a reason for the biggest or most shocking losses the falcons has had over a decade plus now. Individual errors has been the bane, barely formation tweaking. Besides we have the legs to execute this one very well and attack from the centre at awcon.

I can say we are not more clinical in front of goal like we don't miss chances like before we put away almost every chance we created against ivory coast

Waldrum Lists 3 Attributes Of Super Falcons That Could Make Them World Beaters



The Super Falcons coach, Randy Waldrum has highlighted three attributes of the Super Falcons that could make them compete with the best women’s team in the world.

In a chat with NFF media, the 65-year-old coach revealed that the squad possesses the strength, stamina and technical balance to give the world’s best teams like the USA, Canada, Sweden, Brazil etc a good run for their money, any day and anywhere.

Randy Waldrum said: “Our initial mandate as given by the NFF was to qualify the team for the Women AFCON in Morocco.


” However, in the preparation and process, we also had in mind the imperative of building a squad with the strength, stamina and technical balance to give the world’s best teams a good run for their money, any day and anywhere”.

The coach also revealed that the team’s first goal is to qualify for the Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand next summer.

“I am happy that we have qualified for Morocco, where our first goal will be to qualify for the Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand next year summer.”

The coach speaks further:

” We will continue to work on the project, getting young players who are good enough to compete with the old guard, and pick the best team always “.
” I like the spirit of the players and their commitment to the cause, and it is an incentive in itself to keep working hard at the project.”


The coach who introduced four new players into the squad in the final round of the 2022 African Women Cup Of Nations believes the new squad is blessed in all departments as he exuded confidence that the team has what it takes to do great things in the nearest future.

“The girls are bold, inventive and help one another out there on the pitch. It is a good picture that brings good feelings and you have the conviction that this is a team that can do great things,” said Waldrum.

isan:
I can say we are not more clinical in front of goal like we don't miss chances like before we put away almost every chance we created against ivory coast

I would love to see Randy experiment a front 3 of Oshoala, Onumonu and Ordega...

Asisat Oshoala as Center forward,
Ifeoma Onumonu Right wing
Fransisca Ordega left wing....

Having Oparanozie, Okoronkwo, Kanu and Monday Gift or Vivian Ikechukwu on the bench for us to see the number of goals they can produce...

As a center forward for Nigeria oshoala missed too many chances , i will say oshoala in the wing and onumonu in center and ordega shouldn't start

Schemerkhiz:
I would love to see Randy experiment a front 3 of Oshoala, Onumonu and Ordega...

Asisat Oshoala as Center forward,
Ifeoma Onumonu Right wing
Fransisca Ordega left wing....

Having Oparanozie, Okoronkwo, Kanu and Monday Gift or Vivian Ikechukwu on the bench for us to see the number of goals they can produce...

isan:
As a center forward for Nigeria oshoala missed too many chances , i will say oshoala in the wing and onumonu in center and ordega shouldn't start

... I think i prefer Oshoala at the wing, let her create. She tend to miss quite a few before scoring, it feels like she is very anxious atimes.

Schemerkhiz:
I would love to see Randy experiment a front 3 of Oshoala, Onumonu and Ordega...

Asisat Oshoala as Center forward,
Ifeoma Onumonu Right wing
Fransisca Ordega left wing....

Having Oparanozie, Okoronkwo, Kanu and Monday Gift or Vivian Ikechukwu on the bench for us to see the number of goals they can produce...

Onumomu as the CF, Oshoala on the RW and Kanu on the left wing will do for me.

Yea KANU or okoronkwo should start ahead of ordega

mostob:
Onumomu as the CF, Oshoala on the RW and Kanu on the left wing will do for me.

isan:
As a center forward for Nigeria oshoala missed too many chances , i will say oshoala in the wing and onumonu in center and ordega shouldn't start

I will still prefer Ordega from the wing, An inform Ordega will definitely cause havock for any defense, she's better at doing the play making and delivering fine assist... Kanu can replace her at 2nd half
As for Onumonu, I will like to see her from the right wing, she's better with the ball at her feets and can switch the top9 with Oshoala during game time..

isan:
Yea KANU or okoronkwo should start ahead of ordega

Okoronkwo is another brilliant Left Footed Forward who will give the Coaches tough time to either start or bench.. She's strong, technically gifted and one of the most tactically Sound Striker.. Can play every position upfront and as a False 9...

One of the best thing Coach Randy has done with the team is creating a lot of depth in the team...

The attack look so tight now, everyone of them will be fighting to keep a spot cause non of them look so assured now apart from Asisat Oshoala who's the Ultimate Striker of the Superfalcons just like Onumonu have said before...


The Midfield right now is still at 60% if am to rate them but there's still depth there in the Defensive Midfield and Central Midfield position only the attacking Midfield looks so faint Okobi seems to have lost it all

Defense wise he's also working on it already just that the Full back position isn't settled yet..

OFFICIAL:

According to the NFF Statement; Super Falcons head coach, Randy Waldrum has been handed a fresh two-year contract that will last till after the World Cup in 2023.

Waldrum; “The girls are bold, inventive and help one another out there on the pitch. It is a good picture that brings good feelings and you have the conviction that this is a team that can do great things.”

LCFC Women manager Lydia Bedford has confirmed that Ashleigh Plumptre will miss the trip to Manchester United on Saturday due to illness. After helping her country qualify for 2022 African Women’s Cup of Nations last week, Nigeria international Plumptre picked up an illness which ruled her out of the Vitality Women’s FA Cup tie at Chelsea.

She’s just had an illness that she’s picked up while away on international duty that she hasn’t been able to shift yet, so we’re just prioritising making sure that we don’t rush her back in. But other than that, we remain very similar to last week’s game, which is good.”

Schemerkhiz:
LCFC Women manager Lydia Bedford has confirmed that Ashleigh Plumptre will miss the trip to Manchester United on Saturday due to illness. After helping her country qualify for 2022 African Women’s Cup of Nations last week, Nigeria international Plumptre picked up an illness which ruled her out of the Vitality Women’s FA Cup tie at Chelsea.

She’s just had an[b] illness [/b]that she’s picked up while away on international duty that she hasn’t been able to shift yet, so we’re just prioritising making sure that we don’t rush her back in. But other than that, we remain very similar to last week’s game, which is good.”

....chai, maybe malaria....get well soon Ashley....

Schemerkhiz:
LCFC Women manager Lydia Bedford has confirmed that Ashleigh Plumptre will miss the trip to Manchester United on Saturday due to illness. After helping her country qualify for 2022 African Women’s Cup of Nations last week, Nigeria international Plumptre picked up an illness which ruled her out of the Vitality Women’s FA Cup tie at Chelsea.

She’s just had an illness that she’s picked up while away on international duty that she hasn’t been able to shift yet, so we’re just prioritising making sure that we don’t rush her back in. But other than that, we remain very similar to last week’s game, which is good.”

Chai...it should be due to our weather. She should have collected herbs before departing for England

Quick question though

What informed the decision to invite Yewande Balogun as Goalkeeper 3 for the super falcons? I think she has an amazing personality, and that curiosity led to to read up on her a little. Was shocked to discover she's already 38 and not really active professionally as a player. She rather serves as assistant coach UC Davis, this is after her stint with University of Maryland also as assistant coach.

Shouldn't we have someone younger in the lineup? Both replacements for Nnadozie are close to their 40s.

lovewins:
Quick question though

What informed the decision to invite Yewande Balogun as Goalkeeper 3 for the super falcons? I think she has an amazing personality, and that curiosity led to to read up on her a little. Was shocked to discover she's already 38 and not really active professionally as a player. She rather serves as assistant coach UC Davis, this is after her stint with University of Maryland also as assistant coach.

Shouldn't we have someone younger in the lineup? Both replacements for Nnadozie are close to their 40s.

experience I think

Chinwendu Veronica Ihezuo

For me, a big NO.
She was poor during the Turkish Invitational last year and that is why Randy has not invited her since.
There are much better left footed players now.

Schemerkhiz:
Chinwendu Veronica Ihezuo

The likes of Oparanozie, Ordega, Chikwelu and Okobi have been on the Super Falcons scene for eons (they all began their Falcons journey on or before 2010). That is a very long time for a player to be on a National team.
Unfortunately, Nigeria never had any succession plans in place and continued to rely on them all these years. Sad part is nature and age always catches up with athletes, and these ladies are no exception. If you notice, recently, Randy has been focusing on 'younger' players and trying to blood them into the team to replace the old guard.

That's why the likes of Toni Payne, Esther Okoronkwo, Kanu, Rash, Regina Otu and others are becoming more and more prominent in the Super Falcons, which to me, is the right approach. Also, Randy is steadily focusing on the 'next gen' players, like Tosin Demehin, Nicole Payne, Vivian Ikechukwu and possibly Debbie Ajibola & Rofiat Imuran as possible candidates to take over from the old guard.

My point being: Ordega is on the downward slope of her remarkable career. She hasn't been in form because her 'tank' is running empty. I wouldn't be surprised if she becomes a bench warmer and then is slowly disengaged from the National team over the next couple of matches. Ditto that for Oparanozie, Chikwelu and Okobi.
Time to let the younger ones take the reins for the SF.

Schemerkhiz:
I will still prefer Ordega from the wing, An inform Ordega will definitely cause havock for any defense, she's better at doing the play making and delivering fine assist... Kanu can replace her at 2nd half
As for Onumonu, I will like to see her from the right wing, she's better with the ball at her feets and can switch the top9 with Oshoala during game time..

AkinDS:
The likes of Oparanozie, Ordega, Chikwelu and Okobi have been on the Super Falcons scene for eons (they all began their Falcons journey on or before 2010). That is a very long time for a player to be on a National team.
Unfortunately, Nigeria never had any succession plans in place and continued to rely on them all these years. Sad part is nature and age always catches up with athletes, and these ladies are no exception.
If you notice, Randy is focusing on 'younger' players and trying to blood them into the team to replace the old guard.

My point being: Ordega is on the downward slope of her remarkable career. She hasn't been in form because she her tank is running empty. I wouldn't be surprised if she becomes a bench warmer and then is slowly disengaged from the team. Ditto that for Oparanozie, Chikwelu and Okobi.
Time to let the younger ones take the reins for the SF.

Very true. We hardly ever have a succession plan, our players also rarely know when to quit until they are pushed out. We see the same both for the male and female teams. One may understand why the ladies want to stay put for as long as they can though, female football isn't exactly as financially rewarding as men's football,so I assume they'll want to get everything they can (including bonuses from national team callups) before retiring.

Agree. You brought up a very key point - financial rewards.
Women's football is still several steps behind their male conterparts.
However, progress is being made and hopefully, within the next five years, a female footballer will surpass the $5M valuation mark.

lovewins:
Very true. We hardly ever have a succession plan, our players also rarely know when to quit until they are pushed out. We see the same both for the male and female teams. One may understand why the ladies want to stay put for as long as they can though, female football isn't exactly as financially rewarding as men's football,so I assume they'll want to get everything they can (including bonuses from national team callups) before retiring.

AkinDS:
Agree. You brought up a very key point - financial rewards.
Women's football is still several steps behind their male conterparts.
However, progress is being made and hopefully, within the next five years, a female footballer will surpass the $5M valuation mark.

I really wish our administrators can do a lot more for the young local players. They need to encourage and of course model a pathway for female sportspersons to purse some form of education Vis a Vis their sporting career. Playing at 38 should be a choice not compelled by finances. Alozie for instance is somewhat in medical school, Yewande has a MBA, most if not all of the foreign born ladies played college football so they have some form of first degree. Our administrators need to start doing more for our homegrown ladies.

The US took the drastic step to ensure that most of their athletes for their sports professional teams came from colleges a few decades ago. In order to play Football, baseball, basketball, Ice hockey and Soccer professionally, you need to complete a college degree or at least, have completed 2 yrs of university (Ju-Co). Yes, there have been exceptions for super talented players (like Lebron James) but the majority (>90%) have come through the 'draft'. That's why most of their players are university grads. They found this to have positive socio-economic impact in their society, especially for the under-privileged.

Not sure how this model will work in Nigeria (where Nigeria doesn't have a maintenance culture). I remember back in the day, some of the players for IICC shooting stars actually either went to OAU Ife or UI (Ibadan). That is simply not the case now.

lovewins:
I really wish our administrators can do a lot more for the young local players. They need to encourage and of course model a pathway for female sportspersons to purse some form of education Vis a Vis their sporting career. Playing at 38 should be a choice not compelled by finances. Alozie for instance is somewhat in medical school, Yewande has a MBA, most if not all of the foreign born ladies played college football so they have some form of first degree. Our administrators need to start doing more for our homegrown ladies.

U17 Flamingos play DRC away this weekend

solonnachi:
U17 Flamingos play DRC away this weekend

Nigeria’s U17 girls, Flamingos will kickstart their chase for a ticket to this year’s FIFA U17 World Cup finals with a second round, first leg tie against their counterparts of the Democratic Republic of Congo in Kinshasa on Sunday.

Coach Bankole Olowookere has selected 20 players who will do the battle with the characteristically –feisty Congolese on Sunday.

In the squad are two goalkeepers, seven defenders, four midfielders and seven forwards.

The Flamingos, quarter-finalists at the FIFA World Cup finals in 2010, 2012 and 2014, have been in camp for some weeks in the Federal Capital, Abuja.

Nigeria have participated in every edition of the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup, bar one, since the tournament was launched in New Zealand in 2018.

The only finals the Flamingos have missed remain the 2018 finals staged in Uruguay, when they were tripped at the final hurdle by Cameroon on the away-goal rule.

The return leg is scheduled for the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City on Saturday, 19th March, with the winner over two legs to clash with the Egyptian U17 girls in the third round of the African qualifying campaign next month.

The Nigeria delegation to Kinshasa will depart the shores of Nigeria on Friday.

FLAMINGOS HEADING TO KINSHASA

Goalkeepers: Faith Omilana; Linda Jiwuaku

Defenders: Blessing Sunday; Comfort Folorunsho; Confidence Uwoha; Tumininu Adeshina; Mamuzo Edafe; Miracle Usani; Olamide Oyinlola

Midfielders: Blessing Emmanuel; Taiwo Afolabi; Chidera Okenwa; Aminat Bello

Forwards: Sofiat Bankole; Dah-Zossu Alvine; Anastasia Atume; Kafayat Bashiru; Raheemot Adebayo; Joy Igbokwe; Opeyemi Ajakaye





Note; Goalkeeper Faith Omilana of Naija Ratels in Purple � and Goalkeeper Linda Jiwuaku of Confluence Queen in Red ♥️..

Can Randy Waldrum Fly The Super Falcons To Greater Heights?



In two games thus far played against teams placed higher than Nigeria in the Fifa rankings, Waldrum’s Super Falcons are yet to record a single victory.


Against Portugal (placed 29 in the Fifa rankings) on 14 June last year, the team was very impressive in their 3:3 draw. Rasheedat Ajibade, Michelle Alozie scored 2 of the goals sandwiched between a Portuguese own goal.


Three days later, Waldrum’s ladies lost gallantly to the number one team in the world United States in a boisterous stadium where they set up with a defensive 5-3-2 formation to help tame the fury of the American strike force led by the merciless Megan Rapinoe.


The Super Falcons are currently placed 41 in the Fifa rankings.


Against teams placed lower than Nigeria in the rankings, Waldrum’s ladies have returned seven wins out of ten, losing to South Africa, Ghana and Jamaica. But the loses do nothing to dim how impressive this 70% win ratio is.


Furthermore, qualifying for the Afcon by overcoming continental powerhouses Ghana and Ivory Coast only goes to show that the Super Falcons are punching their weight under relentless Randy.


But clearly he wants more, the NFF wants more and the fans yearn for more. The collective ambition is to see the Super Falcons set the bar higher and forge to ever greater frontiers in world football.


It is high time the Super Falcons starts punching above her weight and with some arrogance too.


“We also [have] in mind the imperative of building a squad with the strength, stamina and technical balance to give the world’s best teams a good run for their money, anyday and anywhere.” Expressed an ambitious Randy.




And that is what I will be closely monitoring in games to come.


The team showed a lot of character and resourcefulness against Portugal and the USA last year but going forward, these sort of encounters will need to be laced with compelling swashbuckling victories as a marker of Waldrum achieving his own ambitions.


The NFF are pretty good at lining up ‘A’ grade friendlies for the Super Falcons and also tends to register them for mouthwatering invitational tournaments. More of these will be greatly appreciated in months to come.


With young, dynamic and effervescent dual nationality and homegrown players being injected to the squad of mature, visionary cool heads like evergreen Onome Ebi Rita Chikwelu and Fransisca Ordega, Waldrum (fresh off signing a new 2 year contract) is positive that his ladies can reach new heights and bring joy to the fans.


“The girls are bold, inventive and help one another out there on the pitch. It is a good picture that brings good feelings and you have the conviction that this is a team that can do great things.” Enthused the American coach.

Happy Birthday Onyinyechi Zogg, hope the injury of yesterday during the DFB Pokal Cup game isn't as bad as it seems...

Wishing you a speedy recovery

Cut off all Supply to her and make sure she doesn't get the chance on the ball within your defense, I bet the South African Banyana Banyana will be left with 30% chance to defeat their opponents, she's as good as nothing with the ball
...


Onome Ebi did a great job against her during the 2018 AWCON... Does She have such pace to keep up with her if Nigeria definitely meet them in this year AWCON?