The Super Falcons and Randy Waldrum headed into the Revelation cup with the need to overturn a five-game losing streak as the team had struggled to win a single game since clinching FIFA Women’s World Cup qualification ticket at the Women’s African Cup of Nations in 2022.
Victory against Cameroon in the quarter finals stage sealed the ticket, however, the Women team lost in the semi-final to Morocco before another crushing defeat in the third place playoff to lowly Zambia.
It was only the second time Nigeria had finished outside a medals place in the competition’s history.
The Revelation cup offered the Falcons three games to gauge their strength against opponents of similar profile to their world Cup group stage opposition.
Nigerian was drawn alongside Canada, Ireland and fellow host nation Australia in group B at the FIFA Women’s World Cup and a chance to face Mexico, Colombia and Mexico at the Revelation Cup was a test of for the ladies.
The campaign started with a clash against host nation Mexico, the Falcons were favourites given La Tri were not exceptional themselves and even crashed out of qualifying for the women World Cup, but a late goal by Kiana Palacios in the 85th minute was enough to separate both teams as the Falcons woes continued.
After the disappoint of that encounter and subsequent defeat to Colombia, Randy Waldrum spoke defiantly about the criticisms against his tenure as head Coach.
Waldrum landed a shattering defense of his selection, sighting the example of Manchester United’s manager, Erik Ten Hag and him keeping faith with Left-back Luke Shaw.
However, the concern wasn’t just the performance, but the fact that the performance wasn’t translating to goals. it was a cause for worry as the Falcons had only scored twice in seven games, they also failed to keep a clean sheet losing seven games on the bounce.
The last game of the Revelation Cup was against Costa Rica, and desperate to get things right before wrapping up the campaign, the team offered a good display and capped it off with a goal that indicated the ideas of the coach was finally getting through to the team.
It was a sweeping move from defence to attack which was finished off by Esther Okoronkwo.
Positives can be taken from the outcome of the Costa Rica performance and the overall team progress ahead of the FIFA Women’s World Cup in July.
Of course there’s room for improvement and Waldrum can look at the team now assured of his trusted Lieutenant with another window of preparation due before the World championship.
However, the 66 year-old American has bought himself some reprieve, a respite from the ravenous jury.
