'We've played the Olympic champions' - Waldrum fires warning to England ahead of potential clash

The Super Falcons created a bit of history on Monday afternoon by avoiding defeat for the first time in three consecutive Fifa Women's World Cup matches, holding the Republic of Ireland to a goalless draw to qualify for the last 16 of the ongoing tournament in Australia and New Zealand. 

Nigeria progressed to the 16 as the second-placed team in Group B and will be facing England in the last 16 if the Lionesses avoid defeat in their last group game against China on Tuesday. 

Another possible opponent for the Super Falcons in the last 16 is Denmark who are currently second in Group D and have an easy-looking tie with Haiti in their final group game. 

Nigeria manager Randy Waldrum underlined that he's unperturbed by the prospect of his team facing England in the round of 16 as they've already held their own against two top countries in Canada and Australia. 

When asked to assess the Super Falcon's chances against either England or Denmark in the round of 16, Waldrum told reporters: "It's going to be another great team. If it's England, it's the European champions.

"We have already played the Olympic gold medalist, we've already played the host nation so it's just going to be another of those matches that we've already been playing in."

Waldrum was proud of the Super Falcons players for getting out of the group stages without losing a game, but at the same time the American football tactician was disappointed to see his team drop points against the Republic of Ireland. 

"Three years ago when we started this journey, so many things went well and so many things didn't go well. They never gave up, they continued to believe. 

"I don't think anybody before we got here believed we could get out of this group and go through without losing a match in this group so I'm so proud of them and the efforts they've put it.

"Actually in the second half, disappointed because I thought we could have won the match. All of us would have taken this result before we started the match just to know we got through," he concluded. 

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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