Randy Waldrum believes his team will continue to rewrite history in the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Nigeria, ranked 40th in the world, finished second in group B and are unbeaten in the tournament having kept two clean sheets.
The team is the only African side to ever play in the quarter final of the competition, and could achieve the feat again in Australia with a win over England on Monday morning.
Although they are the underdogs, manager Randy Waldrum says his team is not done yet.
“Already with what we’ve accomplished, Nigeria is buzzing,” said Waldrum.
“I don’t think people expected us to get out of the group with the results we got.
“We [knocked out] the Olympic gold medallists and if we beat the European champions it would be something extremely special back home. It could be transformational in a lot of different ways.”
Except Zambia, Morocco, South Africa and Nigeria made it out of their Group, despite being ranked among the lowest countries.
“With the investment they’re making now it is really starting to pay off. Maybe people outside of Africa are shocked but those in Africa really aren’t,” he added.
The Falcons, who are the third-lowest ranked nation left in the competition, are seeking to become the first African team to win a knockout match at the Women’s World Cup.
“The teams who are the so-called ‘underdogs’ are coming in more tactically prepared. Maybe some teams have underestimated that and all of a sudden found out it wasn’t as easy as they thought it would be.
“Hopefully what it’s saying to us is that more federations are investing in women’s football – but we still need to do more. ” The American said.
The match will hold in Brisbane, 8:30am Nigerian time.
