By Harry Awurumibe, Editor Abuja Bureau
The first test match arranged to gauge the level of preparedness of Nigeria’s senior women’s football team, Super Falcons against Lions Football Club, a local women’s football club in Brisbane earlier billed to kick off by 2:30 pm on Saturday will now start by 10:30 am Australia time.
Head Coach Randy Waldrum had arranged the match against Lions FC, a local women’s football outfit in Brisbane to enable him perfect his tactics and formation to be adopted by Nigeria when the former African champions take on the reigning Olympic champions, Canada on July 21 in the first Group B tie.
Prompt News can confirm that Waldrum who has in the past weeks engaged in media war with his employers, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has decided to bury the hatchet and face the assignment at hand by playing a test-match with the Lions on Saturday at Gold Coast Sports and Leisure Centre located at 296 Nerang Broadbeach Rd, Carrara QLD 421.
However, the United States-born gaffer who now has the full compliment of the 23 players he selected to prosecute the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand will try different players in different positions to see how they adapt should injury or expulsion happens to the team during the competition.
Sadly, Waldrum will miss the services of two key players, Rasheedat Ajibade and Halimat Ayinde who will not be eligible to play the first match against Canada as the duo
bagged red cards in the ill-tempered semi final match between Nigeria and Morocco in the last Women’s African Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco.
For the above reason, Waldrum has to start looking for Ajibade and Ayinde’s replacements in Saturday’s test-match in Brisbane. Without the two midfielders, the coach is left with Christy Ucheibe, Deborah Abiodun and Jennifer Echegini who will pair with Toni Payne in the midfield in his usual 4-4-2 formation.
