Beyond Greatness: Super Falcons of Nigeria Writes their Own Success Story At the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023

 

 

Super Falcons decided to write their own success story, qualify for the Round of 16 amidst neglect by Nigeria Football  Federation and the host of football fans in this West African country.They may have gone to FIFA Women's World Cup Co-host by Australia/New Zealand as the proverbial  "orphans" but now enjoying all the attention.

Nigeria did just enough to hold Ireland to a scoreless tie at 0-0, a result that sends Nigeria on to the knockout round. Ireland's time in the Women's World Cup comes to a close.

For once, Nigeria fans have begun to build confidence on Super Falcons performances and would have fancied them to beat Ireland and top the group B table as well as avoid England in the round of 16 game. But this was not to be as Australia came out smoking and devoured the Canadian by 4 - 0 to top the group. This by no means undermined what the Nigerian ladies have achieved so far.

Let's put what the Super Falcons have achieved into perspective. Fourth at the African Women cup of Nations, no pundit gave them a chance.The tournament predictions concluded that Nigeria was to be the whipping baby of the group: where Australia stood as co-host and 10th in the recent FIFA ranking; Canada ranked 7th and current Olympic champions;: as well as Ireland ranked 22nd. only Nigeria was ranked a distance 40 in group B.

Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) have accused the team's head coach, Randy Waldrum as under performing and decided to withold his four months remunerations, perhaps to force him to resign by himself... NFF officials thought it was a waste of scarce resource to fund the team's preparation for the world and was owing the girls too.

Most Nigeria football fans were not interested. Though, Super Falcons hold the record of qualifying for every FIFA Women's World Cup, they also hold the record of conceding the most goals in the tournament history.

Perhaps, this unfavourable conditions may have spurred the team to go beyond the limit and beyond everyone's expectations, Super Falcons qualified from group B,into the round of 16.