By David Kabiyesi
Super Falcons gaffer coach Randy Waldrum insists his girls are not living in fools paradise with any false sense of security ahead of their Women’s World Cup clash with Australia who is now facing injury crisis.
Nigeria faces The Maltidas later today with Sam Kerr and Mary Fowler’s already ruled out of the clash due to injuries.
Fowler was ruled out of Thursday’s match at Suncorp Stadium, along with veteran defender Aivi Luik after they were concussed in separate incidents on Tuesday.
Kerr was already sidelined with the calf injury that forced her scratching from the opening 1-0 win over Ireland. But Nigeria gaffer believes Australia still have a lot of weapons that can hurt the Falcons if care is not taken.
‘Well, we never like to see players injured and I know how devastating that is, missing matches in the World Cup,’ Waldrum told reporters on Wednesday.
‘But I don’t think it really changes our tactics and what we’re trying to do – they obviously still have a lot of weapons that can hurt you
‘I know a lot of their players really well from playing back in the NWSL when I was coaching in the pro league and I know the quality of those players so we can’t go into the match thinking we’re at some advantage for that reason.’
Waldrum indicated Nigeria would look to frustrate Australia, similarly to how Ireland were able to minimise their attacking opportunities in the 1-0 opening win.
‘Would I take that kind of result, making it as difficult [as possible] on Australia? Absolutely,’ he said.
‘We would hope we could cause those problems as well.’ he told newsmen