Is it true that the Super Falcons cannot be underrated in the Women’s World Cup?
Super Falcons Can Cause Some Harm.
When EA Sports announced they will be releasing 2023 Fifa Women's World Cup interactive game to gaming consoles in July for playing pleasure, football computer game enthusiasts were simply over the moon.
This was the first time the Fifa Women’s tournament would be released as game.
For me, I was keen to see the sort of ratings Nigerian players will be given. So, when EA Sports released the top 100 highly rated players, my interest was aroused.
Three Nigerian players made the cut: Asisat Oshoala (45 on the table) has an overall rating of 84; Chiamaka Nnadozie (73 on the table) has 83 rating, and Rasheedat Ajibade (83 on the table) has a rating of 83. These 3 players were the only Nigerians in the top 100 elite.
One goalkeeper, one midfielder and one striker in the world's top 100 in computer-land.
Overall, the Super Falcons as a unit are highly rated in the game with players like Onumonu, Payne and Plumptre having 79,78,and 73 ratings respectively.
These ratings are done by geeks and experts who have spent years painstakingly and meticulously analysing the attributes, characteristics and core skills of these players.
With so much drama in the media of late regarding the rift between the NFF and coach Randy Waldrum, the bond between the gaffer and his players appear unbreakable: he stood up for goalkeeper Tochukwu Oluehi against bullying from the same NFF whilst others like Onumonu, Echegini and Yewande owe their inclusions to cast iron backing from the American. He stood with Esther Okoronkwo after injuries whilst controversially including rookie midfielder Deborah Abiodun in his roster.
Computer game is not real life, we all know that. But if the attributes assigned to the Super Falcons players by EA Sports are anything to go by, then Waldrum has formidable outfit to "play with" in Australia and New Zealand in a couple of weeks' time.
"Any opponents that underrate the Super Falcons will be doing that at their own peril," said former Super Eagles net minder Joseph Dosu recently.
I am hoping that the understanding between coach and players will be key to propelling the Super Falcons to uncharted territory in this World Cup.
Sadly, the NFF are difficult to understand.
Coach Randy Waldrum insisted on picking his own players instead of bowing to pressure of adding an untested homebased goalkeeper into his squad. So, to punish him, it is alleged that he was forced to drop his sidekick Lauren Gregg.
Lauren is actually more capable and has greater exposure than Randy himself. The lady has been in the coaching crew of successful United States Women's soccer teams in the past.
Because of politics, this man is now forced to go to the tournament without his (and Nigeria's) secret and most valuable weapon. Has the NFF not shot themselves and Nigerian fans on the foot?
God help this NFF.
But Waldrum should be able to shepherd these quality girls to do some harm in the tournament. He has selected his own girls, what is now left is to mould them into an obstinate unit.
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