Nigeria stunned the tournament hosts early in the group stage. Credit: Getty Images/Getty Images
England's last 16 opponents Nigeria have defied their chances of reaching the Women's World Cup play-offs after an explosive build-up to their Underneath campaign that included a strike threat and several public name-calling.
Super Falcons took 40th place. in the world reached the 1/8 finals at the expense of the Canadian Olympic champions. They finished second in Group B behind Australia after a stunning 3-2 win over the hosts sandwiched between 0-0 draws with Canada and Ireland. Qualifying with two priceless shutouts and five points, there is great hope they can stun the European champions in Brisbane on Monday.
But even before a goal was scored in this tournament, the drama had already begun amid widespread reports that the team had not received performance bonuses. Former Arsenal and England striker Ian Wright was among those who urged the Nigerian Football Federation to simply tweet: «Pay them!!!!!!» after their surprise victory over Australia.
To say that the team and their manager's relationship with the NFF was tense would be a massive understatement. In an unusual hour-long episode of the On The Whistle podcast, released two weeks before the start of the tournament, head coach Randy Waldrum accused the NFF of owing him seven months of salary, criticized the position of the women's team, and accused them of not paying the players money. which they were due from last year's Women's AFCON.
Pay them!!!!!! @thenff 🇳🇬
— Ian Wright (@IanWright0) July 27, 2023
Waldrum, who also coaches the University of Pittsburgh when Nigeria is not in camp and previously managed Houston Dash in the NWSL, was not allowed to bring his assistant manager Lauren Gregg to the NFF tournament. In response to Waldrum's words, NFF director of public relations Ademola Olahir called Waldrum «an incompetent babbler», «Mr. Chatterbox», and «the worst coach [we] had in a mile of the country.»
Despite always having a presence at every Women's World Cup, Nigeria was considered a 250-1 chance to win the world title this summer. When they shocked co-hosts Australia in Group B, Waldrum said: «, praising the «heart» of his side.
Chelsea manager and Telegraph Sport columnist Emma Hayes, who studied for a B coaching qualification early in her career at Waldrum's course in the US, says: «He's a top manager, a top manager — it's not going to be an easy game for England. He is one of the best trainer-educators I have ever met, he has very good manners. He taught me a lot about the formation of the game, especially the 4-3-3 formation. He taught me a lot and I think it's right to be wary of Nigeria.»
England should also be wary of Nigerian Barcelona striker Asisat Oshoala, who became the Catalan club's top scorer with 21 goals in 28 top division matches in Spain in last season and helped her club win their second Women's Champions League title. They also include top league stars from France, Portugal and the United States and hope to give another blow to Sarina Wigman's team and reach the quarter-finals for the first time since 1999.
Asisat Oshoala poses a serious threat to England. Photo: Getty Images/Justin Setterfield
Waldrum, speaking to Nigerian broadcaster Victor Modo ahead of the match against England, said: «Now that we've made it out of the group, we don't want our job to be done, we want it to continue. England are European champions for a reason — they are extremely talented — and we respect that, but we played two top 10 teams in the world and I don't think that will intimidate us. We have one big difference from China: China doesn't have our speed and our strength.”
England midfielder Cathy Zelem speaks at a press conference in Terrigal on Australia's central coast on Saturday. , attempted to praise Nigeria, saying, “The beauty of the World Cup is that you can play against so many different countries, styles of play and be able to test yourself. It's amazing to see them get knocked out. They are not the only team to have knocked out a higher ranked team. It shows how far women's football has come.»
Responding to the question of what England will do to avoid another defeat in a tournament littered with unexpected results, Zelem added: «We know that every opponent that we face, especially now in the knockouts, worked so hard to be there and everyone deserves this place. It's about fulfilling our own game plan.»
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