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By Ebenezer Bajela.
Super Falcons head coach, Randy Waldrum, says his side face a daunting task at the 2023 Women’s World Cup, The PUNCH reports.
The world’s biggest women’s football tournament holds from July 20 to August 20 in Australia and New Zealand.
The Falcons were disappointing at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco last year and failed to successfully defend their title. They were also absent from the podium for the second time ever in the competition, ending up in fourth place.
The former African champions are paired in Group B alongside Olympic champions Canada, co-hosts Australia and the Republic of Ireland and face a tough challenge advancing from the group phase.
“It’s scary, to be honest. Our first two games are brutal,” Waldrum told FIFA.com.
“Many people have our group ranked as the hardest in the World Cup. The other three teams are all ranked in the top 25 in the world. They all pose different kinds of problems.
“Just like Canada, Australia has so, so many stars. They have Sam Kerr leading the line and a host of really, really talented players behind her. And if that’s not going to be hard enough, they’re the host nation, so we’ve got a lot to overcome.
“It’s going to be a very, very big challenge for us. Obviously, as a coach, I look forward to these challenges and I think our players also will, but clearly it will be very difficult for us. Look at Australia’s recent performances. They’re handling strong opposition pretty easily. Australia are flying right now and, in a World Cup at home, they’re sure to be flying.”
Meanwhile, the Falcons departed for Turkey on Monday ahead of the friendlies against Haiti and World Cup co-hosts New Zealand.
The nine-time African champions will come up against Haiti at the Emir Sports Complex in Antalya, Turkey on Friday, before taking on New Zealand at the Mardan Sports Complex, also in Antalya, next Tuesday.