- Another matchday, another problem to fix for Randy’s Super Falcons
- Chimaka Nnadozie still exceptional despite the loss
- Nigeria’s Super Falcons is not yet ready at the international level
Spain’s national women’s team had a good day at the office on Sunday, July 28, after Alexia Putellas scored a decisive freekick in the 85th minute. However, the scoreline did not reflect how solid the Super Falcons were defensively, which was a major improvement from the previous game against Brazil. Despite the vast, rich talent in the attacking department, Nigeria’s women’s team only struggled to impress, with 2 shots on goal and 5 shot attempts throughout the game.
Goal drought continues as attackers struggle to find the net
Rasheedat Ajibade and Asisat Oshola have been singled out for criticism. Despite their wealth of experience, carrying a star-studded young SuperFalcon team through to the next round should be the least of their worries. The African women’s best player, Asisat Oshoala found it difficult throughout her minutes on the pitch to make a successful shot on target, although she had set up Rasheedat brilliantly with a direct pass in the 35th minute for a goal-scoring opportunity but the Spanish keeper was quick to bounce it aside. The two Nigerian stars left many unimpressed with their wasteful shots throughout the match.
Individual brilliance of Chimaka Nnadozie
Chimaka Nnadozie, Nigeria’s standout goalie has been exceptional since the first match against the Brazilian side. She has always demonstrated top-notch skills even under pressure, producing 5 major saves to keep Nigeria competitive under intense dominance from Spain. She easily would have been the best player on the pitch save for the avoidable goal by Spain’s Putellas.
Coach tactics or player’s performance: where does the problem lie?
When the lineup was out, it was evident Randy was set for a 4-3-3 formation, but along the line, it seemed as though a 4-4-2 formation had been switched to with Oshoala and Rasheedat confidently leading the frontline with wasteful attempts as they relied heavily on the flanks for crosses and the midfielders to set them up for a goal-scoring attempt. It is, however, only evident that Coach Randy is either not utilising the talent in his squad, or he needs to go back to the drawing board to review his tactics. The Super Falcons defended deep but were unable to utilise their attacking prowess simultaneously, which cost them opportunities against a skilful Spain. Although Nigeria’s women’s team might be the champions of Africa and boast of a talented squad, the Olympics results have only proven that they are no match with their peers on the global stage. The Nigeria women's team will be hoping for a miracle to get through to the next round in Paris.
Nigeria's rough start at Paris 2024: Ogunsemilore out for doping, Aruna loses, Falcons fail
Previously, TheRadar reported that The Paris 2024 Olympics have commenced, but for Nigeria, the games have begun on a sour note. The nation’s athletes have faced a series of setbacks that have cast a shadow over their participation. From doping allegations to disappointing losses, Nigeria’s Olympic journey has been turbulent so far. Nigeria has experienced a slow start across sports at the Paris Olympics.
