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Super Falcons head coach Randy Waldrum has vowed to ring changes in his starting line-up for the defending champions crucial Group C clash against Botswana, reports Completesports.com.
Thursday’s encounter will take place at the Stade Prince Moulay El Hassan, Rabat.
The Super Falcons fell to a 2-1 defeat against the Banyana Banyana of South Africa in their opening game of the competition on Monday.
Read Also: Exclusive: 2022 WAFCON: Super Falcons Will Miss Oshoala –Dosu
Star forward Asisat Oshoala has already been ruled of the competition following the injury she picked up against the South Africans.
“We are definitely going to make some changes from our first game,”Waldrum told a press conference in Rabat on Wednesday.
“The atmosphere in camp is good and we have regrouped. We want to win our next game.”
The Super Falcons currently sit third in Group C behind table leaders Botswana and second-placed South Africa who both won their opening games.
By Adeboye Amosu
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*Will Waldrum’s Falcons Come To The Party?*
In what was naturally expected, the Super Falcons head coach Randy Waldrum has announced the rejigging of his squad for tomorrow’s make-or-mar Afcon second group match against Botswana.
In the eyes of some Nigeria fans, Randy Waldrum is yet to prove his onions as an elite Super Falcons coach.
The sour milk-and-water loss to South Africa in the opening group C match just further made the American lose additional valuable browny points in the eyes of fans who are already dubious of his capabilities. I like him and think he has it in his locker to orchestrate an appropriate approach conducive to Nigeria retaining the Afcon crown.
In order to get this WAfcon campaign back on track, the beleaguered American gaffer has now promised to ring changes in the team’s line up for the next duel.
“We are definitely going to make some changes from our first game,”Waldrum said to the media.
An enforced change is iconic Asisat Oshoala who is now ruled out of the rest of the tournament due to injuries.
For me, there are some players in that uninspiring starting 11 line up against South Africa who need to be jettisoned because, to be honest, they were too long-in-the-tooth to keep up with the pace of the South Africans.
The likes of Ayinde, Ohale and Chikwelu now have to be considered as substitutes to see out games because of their vast experience. Some of them might just have played themselves out of the starting 11 due to their wishy-washy display against South Africa.
These same players are highly appreciated but the previous game just passed them by. Any slip up against Botswana might just prove costly (Botswana are trying to carve out an image for themselves as giant killers).
For me, Onumonu is just like France’s Olivier Giroud who is not at all pacy but positionally astute with a cobra’s fangs inside the 18 yard box. We didn’t see that incisiveness from her in the last match due to winger role she was asked to play. Waldrum needs to place her in the right spot and Onumanu on her part must deliver in spades.
The likes of midfielders ravishing Regina Otu and classy Christie Ucheibe can also help breathe renewed life into that midfield while femme fatale Uchenna Kanu or vivacious Vivian Ikechukwu can build up on their impressive cameos against South Africa.
The fact remains that Nigeria are firm favourites to retain their WAfcon trophy. Waldrum has the players across the park to cross over the line. But the American placate his loyal but disappointed adherents (like myself) while winning over his doubters.
He needs to get his women playing with gravitas, verisimilitude, structure, drive, passion and purpose.
To be honest, the Super Falcons were slightly incoherent, rudimentary, ropey, rudderless and edgeless against South Africa.
We now need to see his team come to the party for the remainder of the tournament.
Nothing other than an outright, emphatic and compelling victory against Botswana tomorrow will help to knock the disappointment of the game against South Africa into a cocked hat.
All eyes on Waldrum.
The Super Falcons have the quality in their ranks, Waldrum now needs to mould them into a cohesive, imaginative, free flowing, masterfully designed and well wrought outfit.
We now wait to see how the changes he plans to ring out play out from tomorrow henceforth.
Correction***
“But the American needs to placate his loyal but disappointed adherents (like myself) while winning over his doubters in the process.”
Go girls, you can do it. It was more difficult eliminating Ghana and CIV than these Burundi and Botswana. YOU ROCK GIRLS.
Guys, I don’t know why but I have not been impressed with Waldrum’s coaching from the very go. Perhaps, my expectations are to high. I would not be surprised if we don’t retain this trophy (God forbid)
Waldrum have nothing to offer super falcon, to this day all his games are nothing to write home about !!..I am highly disappointed with his coaching style , which have turned Super Falcons to a shadow of her self !!