Paris 2024: Waldrum praises Falcons wants the team to camp in Europe for the Olympics

Nigeria coach Randy Waldrum hailed his team after they drew 0-0 with South Africa in Pretoria on Tuesday to qualify for the 2024 Olympic Games women's football tournament.

The Super Falcons won 1-0 on aggregate thanks to a Rasheedat Ajibade goal from a penalty in the first leg last Friday in Abuja.

Nigeria returns to the Olympics tournament after a 16-year absence and will face world champions Spain, Japan, and Brazil in the first round of the July 25-August 10 tournament in France.

"Sixteen years without qualifying is a long time and I am extremely proud of the girls," said 67-year-old American Waldrum after a second leg that produced few scoring chances.

"It is a huge accomplishment for Nigeria and we defended brilliantly. There is work to be done when it comes to our attack, and we will improve before heading to France."

Waldrum has demanded that his team train in Europe to prepare them for the 2024 Olympic Games.

 “My plea is to help us to prepare properly, we need to camp in Europe, we need proper training, proper transportation, we need to do things right,” Waldrum said after the game against Banyana Banyana in Pretoria.

“Every team at the Olympics is top, like the World Cup, we’re in the ‘Group of Death’.”

The Falcons held the Banyana Banyana of South Africa to a 0-0 draw in the second leg of their final qualifying round fixture in Pretoria on Tuesday night.

.“The team did everything we asked of them to get the result,” Waldrum said after the game.

“We knew South Africa would come at us, we respect them but this was our seventh or eighth clean sheet, we have been very good defensively

“With time and some proper work, we will also be better on the offensive side, which everyone is asking for.” South Africa coach Desiree Ellis said: "Failing to reach the finals is a huge disappointment, but I am very proud of the team.

"We gave everything we had, especially in the second half. I could not have asked for more. Congratulations to Nigeria -- they defended resolutely."