In the buildup to the highly anticipated second leg match of the Olympics Qualifier, Super Falcons coach Randy Waldrum has expressed confidence in his team’s abilities, particularly singling out forward Chinwendu Ihezuo for her stellar performance in the first leg clash against South Africa.
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“The back four I thought was really good, and she was clearly very strong for us.
For me, Chinwendu was outstanding, and I think we’ve had, I can go back and think of some really good performances we’ve had with some of our strikers over my time here.
But I think for me, her performance as the number nine was probably the best performance of any striker we’ve had.”
Waldrum’s words come as a vote of confidence for Ihezuo, who was pivotal in the team’s first leg clash.
He commended her ability to consistently penetrate the opponent’s defence and apply pressure on their backline.
“I just love the way she got behind the defence every time defensively.
She put pressure on the centre-back.
The goal came from her running 50 yards to chase a ball down in the box to get fouled.
A lot of our strikers wouldn’t have done that. And then she’s really good in a hold-up play.
You can play into her, and she brings other players into the game.
She has the ability to hold the ball. So I thought it was outstanding.
I’m really, really proud of her performance.”
These remarks underscore the coach’s admiration for Ihezuo’s multifaceted contributions to the team’s attacking prowess.
With the final second leg match on the horizon, Waldrum believes that Ihezuo and her teammates are primed to give their best to clinch the Olympic qualification.
The Super Falcons have displayed resilience and determination throughout the olympic qualifiers journey, and Waldrum’s faith in the squad’s capabilities adds an extra layer of motivation as they prepare to face their final hurdle.
The team aims to seize victory and proudly gain the Olympic ticket.
