FWWC: Waldrum unhappy with draw, grateful to advance in World Cup
By Uzor Odigbo
Nigeria were disappointed to come away from their final Women’s World Cup group game against Ireland with just a point on Monday but would have gladly accepted reaching the last 16, coach Randy Waldrum said.
Nigeria started the game top of the standings but the 0-0 draw allowed co-hosts Australia to move up to first place after they thrashed Canada 4-0.
Nigeria’s pay dispute has overshadowed their campaign, with the outspoken Waldrum saying he was owed seven months’ wages and some of his players had not been paid in two years.
But the American coach said he was proud of what the African side had achieved despite the complaints.
“I just told them that two 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,” a smiling Waldrum said after they sealed qualification for the last 16