Waldrum cites Chelsea v Liverpool as he discusses Super Falcons' showdown with clinical Bayana Bayana side 

Nigeria manager Randy Waldrum has defended his misfiring strikers ahead of April's highly anticipated showdown against South Africa's Bayana Bayana in the fourth round of qualifiers for the 2024 CAF Women's Olympic qualifying tournament. 

The Super Falcons  were profligate in front of goal in their back-to-back matches with the Indomitable Lions, scoring just once through Esther Okoronkwo to advance to the final round of qualifiers for Paris 2024.

Over the two legs against the Indomitable Lionesses, Nigeria carved out at least eight scoring opportunities but managed to convert only one. 

Defending his misfiring strikers, Waldrum cited Sunday's Carabao Cup final between Chelsea and Liverpool, saying both Premier League teams had a number of clear-cut chances to win the game but did not take the chances until the 118th minute when Reds central defender Virgil van Dijk decided the game with a headed goal. 

And when asked how he would address the goalscoring issues before the Super Falcons' meeting with a clinical Bayana Bayana side, the American football tactician said at Monday's post-match press conference: "It's always a concern. I would be more concerned if we were not creating those chances. I think when you get into tight matches like this, you see it at every level.

"Chances were created yesterday with Liverpool and Chelsea and they weren't finished, it ends up a 1-0 game."

Looking ahead to the games against Bayana Bayana, Waldrum said: "We'll just have to review videos and prepare off what we see"

The Super Falcons, under Waldrum, have not lost in regulation time in thirteen consecutive matches. 

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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