Algeria’s ‘Green Ladies’ arrive as Falcons begin new era under Madugu

Super Falcons training at the Mobolaji Johnson arena, Lagos, ahead of the international friendly against Algeria… tomorrow.

The women’s national football team, the Super Falcons, are set to begin a new life post Randy Waldrum with an international friendly game against Algeria, tomorrow, at the Remo Stars Stadium, Ikenne, Ogun State.

Waldrum, an American, led the girls during one of their most successful eras in recent times, with a credible second-round performance at the Australia/New Zealand Women’s World Cup, in 2023, and qualification for the Paris 2024 Games, which was their first in 16 years.

Now, the mantle has been passed to Justine Madugu, whose first game is against Algeria’s “Green Ladies.” A 35-woman Algerian delegation arrived in Lagos for the two-legged confrontation with the nine-time African champions, which will be held tomorrow and Tuesday.

According to thenff.com, The Algerians are lodged at the Eko Hotel & Towers, Victoria Island from where they will move to Ikenne for the first of their two-leg matches tomorrow.

Both teams will clash again on Tuesday, at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan, Lagos. The Green Ladies, who have made five appearances at the Women Africa Cup of Nations, with their debut in 2004, were scheduled to train at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena at 5.00 pm yesterday, thenff.com said, adding that both the Green Ladies and the Super Falcons will move to the Legacy Pitch inside the National Stadium, Surulere for their official training sessions today, with the Algerians to take the pitch at 4.00 pm.

Looking forward to an entertaining encounter, Madugu said: “We have been having useful sessions since we resumed on Monday. I am impressed with the discipline and sense of dedication of the players, and I am looking forward to a masterclass performance by the Super Falcons in both games.

“We respect the Algerians just as we respect every other team that we play against, but the truth is that we need to bounce back strongly from the below-par outing at the Olympics and restore our team’s confidence and positive spirit.”

These two matches stir memories of the Aisha Buhari Women’s Tournament that was held in Lagos, in September 2021, which is also the last time that the Super Falcons played Grade A friendly matches on home soil. Madugu’s squad has a large contingent of home-based professionals, with only six overseas-based players invited.