Although Nigeria’s dream of playing in the quarterfinals of the ongoing FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand died on the streets of Brisbane yesterday, as Super Falcons lost via penalties to Three Lionesses of England, fans of the team, including First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, have risen in unison to applaud the gallant girls.
Not many gave the Nigerians a chance of holding the much-fancied England to standstill for 120 minutes, but the Falcons had everything needed to win the game, except goals.
England won the game with Nigeria losing their first two penalty kicks through Desire Oparanozie and Michelle Alozie, while the Three Lionesses scored their first four to win 4-2.
Speaking on the game, Senator Tinubu, who commended the Although Nigeria’s dream of playing in the quarterfinals of the ongoing FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand died on the streets of Brisbane yesterday, as Super Falcons lost via penalties to Three Lionesses of Englands for their superb performance, said she “is very proud of the girls,” who “played their hearts out in the Round of 16 encounter.”
In a statement signed by her Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Busola Kukoyi, the First Lady, who watched the match via television with the wife of the Vice President, Hajia Nana Shettima, and the wife of Senate President, Mrs. Ekaette Akpabio, described the game as a tension-soaked encounter, saying the Nigerian girls were no pushovers.
“The only thing the England side had going for them was simply luck,” she said, adding that she is “proud of their performance.”
The First Lady told the team that she would be waiting to receive them as true heroes on their return home.
Meanwhile, Super Falcons’ Manager, Randy Waldrum, has praised his girls for their gallant display against England, saying the future belongs to the Falcons.
He said victory over European champions, England, could have had “significant implications” for the development of women’s football in Nigeria, but they can exit the tournament with their heads held high.
The Nigerians more than matched England and carried momentum going into extra time, but just could not provide the ruthlessness that was needed.
“(The players) have been fantastic in the tournament,” said Waldrum. “We’ve played four matches, including against the Olympic gold medalists and the European champions and had clean sheets in those games.
“I’m so proud of them. They have such a bright future. The players came together in an unbelievable way. They just played their hearts out and I couldn’t be more proud of them.
“We can be and should be one of the top teams in the world. I think we have shown we’re capable of playing with anybody.”
