By Harry Awurumibe, Editor, Abuja Bureau
All is now set as United States Women’s National Team (USWNT) will in the early hours of Thursday (in Nigeria) face their toughest test in the Four-Nation invitational tournament when the reigning World Champions clash with African Champions, Nigeria in the last match of the Summer Series at Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas.
On paper, the encounter between Nigeria’s Super Falcons and Team USA could be termed a mismatch in many respects just as both teams are ranked miles apart in the current ranking of the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA).
While the ‘Stars and Stripes’ are Undisputed World Number One, Nigeria is ranked 37 lower than US at
Number 38 in the world, a situation which makes the encounter a no contest.
Also, US has won the FIFA Women’s World Cup four times, finished second once and won bronze three times even as US has equally won Four Gold and One Silver medals in the Olympic Games.
For decades, Team USA has been topping podiums, making waves and racking up hardware as they prove to the rest of the world what grit and greatness looks like.
From the team’s first trailblazers who won the very first Women’s World Cup in 1991, to the iconic 99er’s who captured the eyes and hearts of a nation, to the generation inspired by all of the above that now wear the ‘Stars and Stripes’ with pride—the Women’s National Team is, always has been, and always will be a force to be reckoned with on and off the field of play.
In contrast, Nigeria’s Super Falcons which has attended the same eight FIFA Women’s World Cup final since 1991 in China like the US has only managed to make two second round appearances in the same competition the Americans have won medals in all eight outings.
Aside the African Women’s Cup of Nations (AWCON) which Nigeria has won a record 9-times and one low-rated West African Football Union (WAFU) B Cup in 2018, the country has not finished at podium both in the FIFA Women’s World Cup and Olympic Games.
As was reported by this medium last week, US versus Nigeria match
at the brand new Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas will mark the first time the USA has ever faced Nigeria outside of a FIFA Women’s World Cup final and Olympic Games.
Of the USA’s five previous meetings with Nigeria, four came in the FIFA Women’s World Cup and one in the Olympics in Sydney 2000, just as USA has faced Nigeria in Group Stage in three consecutive FIFA Women’s World Cup final– 1999, 2003, 2007 – and also in 2015.
Prompt News reports that both countries met first in FIFA Women’s World Cup tie on June 24, 1999 at Soldier Field Stadium, Chicago during the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup final.
It was an embarrassing 7-1 scoreline as a 2nd minute late Ifeanyi Chiejine own goal was cancelled out by midfielder, Nkiru Okosieme in the 3rd minute but that goal angered Mia Hamm led USA to go goals crazy afterwards to score six more goals against goalkeeper Ann Agumanu-Chiejine.
Also, Nigeria and USA met the second time in Sydney 2000 Olympics and Nigeria under veteran coach, Ismaila Mabo lost 1-3 to USA at Melbourne Stadium, Australia.
The two nations met one more time in 2003 and Nigeria under Coach Samuel Okpodu lost again just as Super Falcons lost
on June 16, 2015 in Vancouver, Canada where USA won 1-0 by a late goal from superstar, Abby Wambach to lead Group D.
For this reason, the Nigerian team presently coached by long-time American College coach, Randy Waldrum, who is currently the Head Coach at the University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania has a tough task to reverse the trend of losses to the Americans in Texas.
Expectedly, this match will be a litmus test for Waldrum’s tactical prowess and technical skills
just as Nigeria’s victory over USA will confirm the American as the best coach of the Super Falcons.
No fewer than 13 former Head Coaches of Super Falcons, especially the four coaches who were fortunate to clash with Team USA in the FIFA Women’s World Cup final and Olympics, lost their matches.
They are Coaches Mabo, USA 1999 and Sydney 2000; Okpodu, USA 2003; late Joseph Ladipo aka Jossy Lad, China 2007 and Edwin Okon, Canada 2015. None won a match against USA.
