Ahead of their crucial Olympic qualifier against South Africa’s Banyana Banyana, Nigerian coach Randy Waldrum has chosen to ignore the chatter surrounding the opposing team’s early arrival in Nigeria.
His unwavering focus is on ensuring his squad, the Super Falcons, are fully prepared for the high-stakes encounter.
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The clash between Nigeria and South Africa is a battle between two of Africa’s most decorated women’s football teams. Both sides are vying for one of the two coveted spots allocated to the continent for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games women’s football tournament.
The qualification process is a two-legged affair, with the first leg set for Friday at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja, Nigeria. The teams will then reconvene in Pretoria, South Africa, on Tuesday, April 9th, for the second leg, which will ultimately determine which nation advances to the Olympics.
While some Nigerian fans have expressed concerns regarding the early arrival of the Banyana Banyana, American coach Waldrum remains unfazed. He has made it clear that his sole priority is on meticulously preparing the Super Falcons for the upcoming challenge.
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“My thought about the South African team is that they are a very good side and they are the women’s champions and we have to have respect for them.
“I will guess some of their players are probably not here yet, though the majority of the team may be here already and I think it is smart to come in here early and train here but we can’t really worry about what they are doing.
“We have to just focus and concentrate on the task that we have and that is to make sure that our players are prepared for their responsibilities for the Friday match,” Waldrum told The NFF TV.
Nigeria is looking to make a return to the Olympics after a 16-year absence.
The winners of the two-match qualifiers automatically receive a 2024 Olympic bid for Paris and Waldrum expressed confidence in his side.
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