Women’s World Cup: NFF plan grade-A friendly for Super Falcons in Europe

By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde

Nigeria’s senior women’s national team are billed to play a top-grade friendly match ahead of this year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup, according to the Nigeria Football Federation on Tuesday.

In consolidating on the Super Falcons three win in a row, the NFF during Monday’s Executive Committee meeting concluded plans to organize a friendly match in Europe with a yet-to-be-confirmed opponents.

In the same vein, the NFF president board led by Ibrahim Gusau assured Randy Waldrum’s side of adequate preparations for the summer’s global showpiece to be co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand.

“The Board expressed satisfaction with the new positive spirit and winning mentality in the camp of the senior women national team, Super Falcons, which has seen the team win its last three international matches,” the communique read.

“With the bigger picture of the biggest-ever FIFA Women’s World Cup competition coming up in Australia and New Zealand this summer in mind, the Board admonished the technical crew to work even harder to give confidence to the players that they can indeed stand their own against the world’s best.

“Board stated that it will do even more to prepare the team for the big challenge with another grade A friendly match in Europe and a two-week camping in Australia before the kick-off of the tournament on 20 July.”

Since securing its qualification ticket last July, the nine-time African champions has played five games in build up to the biggest women’s football competition in this summer.

Waldrum’s side had suffered defeats in opening two games to Mexico (1-0) and World Cup-bound Colombia (1-0) before winning its last three games before bouncing back with a 1-0 win over another Women’s World Cup-bound Costa Rica was followed by victories against Haiti (2-1) and World Cup co-host New Zealand (3-0).

The Falcons scored six goals in their last three matches, conceding only one and Randy Waldrum’s side will face Canada, Australia, and the Republic of Ireland in Group B of the Women’s World Cup.