Nigeria’s Super Falcons have crashed out of the 2023 FIFA women’s World Cup after losing to 10-player England on Penalty shootout, Completesports.com reports.
After a thrilling 120 minutes of football which ended goalless, the Three Lionesses triumphed 4-2 to reach the last eight.
England have now won against the Falcons in their two meetings at the World Cup (their first win came at the 1995 edition in Sweden).
The European champions were reduced to 10 players on 84 minutes after star player Lauren James was sent off for stamping on Michelle Alozie.
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In the 31st minute England thought he had won a penalty but after VAR review it was overturned.
Ashleigh Plumptre saw her effort hit the woodwork in the first half while Christy Ucheibe also hit the bar off a header.
With less than 20 minutes left Chiamaka Nnadozie made a brilliant save to deny Rachel Daly from giving England the lead.
After 90 minutes the game went to extra time and had to be decided by penalties after another goalless in the extra 30 minutes.
England got off to a poor start in the shootout after Georgia Stanway missed but substitute Desire Oparanozie also failed to scores Nigeria’s first attempt.
While Alozie missed again for the Falcons, England converted their remaining four kicks to win the game.
England will now meet the winner between Colombia and Jamaica in the quarter-finals.
75 Comments
Superb performance from the SF. You all including Waldrum n crew have done us really really proud. A sensable FA will build on this performance going forward, by retaining entire coaching crew as well as majority of players. The area needing a revamping is just the attack ; THE GREY AREA.With good attacking talents we would have beating the England team silly. Time to scout for more attackers. A BIG BIG CONGRATULATIONS ONCE AGAIN. ENGLAND GO CONFESS SAY SOMETIN TOUCH THEM. ONLY HOPE THEY FIND ENOUGH ENERGY LEFT TO PLAY THEIR NEXT GAME.
Maintain coaching crew? The coaching crew should be promoted to Super Eagles. Waldrum showed more tactical expertise in every game than the so-called Portuguese tactician has shown coaching the SE. Waldrum changed tactical formations to suit each match and during each match, not just 442 for every opponent.
Canada appointed their women’s coach as the national team coach for their men’s team. Waldrum has shown better tactical awareness than either Eguavoen or that pot-bellied Portugues guy.
Brodaman Tristan, you sure have a point there oo. But only an FA with right positive thinking cap will do just that. OUR PROBLEM IS NOT ABSENCE OF TALENTS BUT AS ALWAYS, BLIND ADMINISTRATION OF SPORT.
Really impressed with the team and the coaching staff. Waldrum should be allowed to continue with the team.
I am sure Waldrum can’t wait to pack his bags and leave Nigeria.
WALDRUM has said he wants to stay to continue with the good job he has done and that will depend on what the crazy and corrupt NFF wants to do. Because of the issue Waldrum had with NFF before the championship, I am pretty sure they will want to use the alibi of not having money to pay his salary to want to frustrate him and let him go. That is how vindictive those in the NFF are. And of course they would have sacked him if the team had not made it to the last 16….
Nigeria Super Falcons were the better team today, however penalty shootout are always tricky.
Their tactics were on spot. The girls played out their hearts and the technical crew definitely knew what they were doing.
They were defensively solid and dangerous on the attack. Even hit the woodwork twice in the match. In fact, this team is a great team.
For me @ashleighhplumptre is the woman of the match for me. She played with so much passion and focus both defensively and in the attack. I officially declare her more of Nigerian than English. Don’t be deceived by her “Oyinbo” looks. Let me know if you agree me regarding my “Woman of the match” award.
Up Super Falcons, Up Nigeria.
Definitely woman of the match without a doubt.
And where do you want to keep Superintendent Halimatu Ayinde….?
Great work by the team. Oshoala should have come in much later,same with Ordega. Overall a game not to be ashamed of. Penalties are anyone’s game, I expected more from Oparanozie, she fall my hands. I won’t fault Alozie, the occasion got to her!Viva Naija
I was told by an elder that success is beautiful but there are some failure that are truly heroic and honorable. Falcons failed to progress but they didn’t chiken out like others. I am super proud of the girls, including those who lost penalty. I don’t belive anyone, including NFF should complain about the performance of our girls. They gave their best. If Super Eagles play like this, trust me, they willbe feared in world football. Our girls showed determination, desterity, can do spirit, they were fearless and they represented Nigeria and Africa really very well. They all put up good fight.
This is just so sad.
Really Sad end to a wonderful individual performance by the girls. Its so unfortunate it had to go to the lottery of penalties. And knowing we probably planned for penalties, one would have thouth they were adequately prepared for it.The fact that we blazed our 1st 2 wide says it all.
The moment we couldnt bite after James red card, I just felt we were gonna end up losing this game. Such a shame we lost a game we had in the palm of our hands.
We had so many situations that gave us advantage in this game.
Its so sad we couldnt even at least threaten their GK all through 30 minutes of a man advantage
England switched to 441 situation and choked their area
In truth, Waldrum switched to a 352 in response to England’s 441 switch, however his deployment of players to execute it was faulty.
What was the inspiration behind playing Alozie on the left side, Ajibade as a Second Striker and Ordega on the right….??
We all how Ajibade came back to life immediately she moved back to the wings in the 2nd half of extra time. Alozie too would have been useful from the right with her ability to drill crosses into the 6 yard box. Ordega would have been better attacking centrally with Desire, knowing that we were playing with 1 man down since Opeyemi Ajakaye-ish Oshoala was more busy with playing big-man football and attempting senseless bicycle kicks.
It can be so annoying as a defender whn you are putting your life on the line to keep things tight at the back your attackers are just upfront playing as if nothing is at stake.
And when it went to penalties, you would thing our players have been aswered when England lost their 1st kick….only for our own players to blaze theirs from Australia to New Zealand.
This loss is too painful. These girls deserve a place in the Qfinals and possibly the Semifinals
As usual, lacing hard truth with humor. How will Waldrum be him if he doesn’t play players out of style lol. Bowing out of world cup without losing a match in regular time is something for the next stage of the new generation falcons. Was surprised we outscored england on shots at goal even if 18 of them were not on target out of 20 compared to England’s 4 on target out of 12. Do you think Nigeria would still drop even if half fit Oshoala for the qualifiers?
We lost to more tactical team. I wanted us to drag them to penalties and we did. There’s no way Lucy Bronze shove on Alozie was not a penalty. We lost gallantly and we showed today that we can match the best of the world at this level. We need to inject more attacking talents into the team going forward. We had all the chance in the world to win the game in regulation time. However, penalties are anybody’s game. Keep your heads up gallant ladies your warriors. We move nobody has to criticize you as they never gave y’all a chance to to even draw a game. 3 clean sheets shows our game is going to the tactical and discipline direction. We just need more attacking talents.
England was not the better tactical team, the only weapon England had was setpieces, especially from corners. Nigeria’s poor finishing and decision-making were what took it to penalty kicks. And with penalty kicks anything can happen.
Brodaman Tristan, you sure have a point there oo. But only an FA with right positive thinking cap will do just that. OUR PROBLEM IS NOT ABSENCE OF TALENTS BUT AS ALWAYS, BLIND ADMINISTRATION OF SPORT.
For me @ashleighhplumptre is the woman of the match for me. She played with so much passion and focus both defensively and in the attack. I officially declare her more of Nigerian than English. Don’t be deceived by her “Oyinbo” looks. Up Super Falcons, Up Nigeria.
Nigeria Super Falcons were the better team today, however penalty shootout are always tricky.
Their tactics were on spot. The girls played out their hearts and the technical crew definitely knew what they were doing.
They were defensively solid and dangerous on the attack. Even hit the woodwork twice in the match. In fact, this team indeed is a great team.
Kudos to the girls they really tried and the coaching crew as well
Desire Oparanozie, a late substitute who hardly touched the ball should not have taken the opening penalty.
I tell you. She’s not been in the heat of the game and would definitely be rusty. Some common sense errors by the coach.
You think it is easy to play penalties??? Ask Saka during the Euro 2021 or Kanu at Nigeria Ghana 2000 (against Camreoun)…..Ronaldo and Messi have both missed penalties on so many accasions
How about the other girl that played the whole game and still missed. Penalty shoot out is always unpredictable. That’s why it is referred to as a lottery. Playing against 10, they had all the time and chance in the world to win the game.
You think say na sunday league where a coach decides who take penalty ni?
England had all the best preparations as well as coming into the world cup tournament as Champions of Europe but yet struggle to match a SF team with all the sorry atmosphere leading to the world cup proper. ABEG SF AND COACHING UNA TOO MUCH, UNA TOO MUCH, UNA TOO FINE. LOLZZ. MILLIONS OF GBOZA GBOZA GBOZA…….. FOR ALL OF UNA.
DON’T MESS ABOUT WITH ANY NIGERIAN TEAM IS THE MESSAGE YOU LOTS LEFT WITH THE WORLD TO REMINISCE ABOUT.
THIS IS WHAT WE WANT FROM ALL OUR NATIONAL TEAMS;IF EVER WE ARE DESTINED TO LOSE, WE MUST ONLY DO GALLANTLY.
I tell you. Keeping 3 clean sheets in 4 tournament matches against top 10 teams is no mean feat. I curse NFF for the chaotic camping activities. Thunder go fire them if they tinker badly with this squad and coaching crew which obviously is built now on mean defense. Can oshoala be dropped for any other player going forward? Maybe we can try new strikers in the 4 WAFCON qualifiers and let our main stars perform for their clubs. NFF will still be too poor to plan friendlies for the falcons because of misfit eagles.
I have never been more impressed with falcons. This is a squad that will continue to dominate the continent, forget south Africa and morocco. Plumptre, Payne and Alozie deserve WAFCON medals.
It was honestly out of place to expect the team to win the tournament.
That would have been unfair to other FAs such as the English FA that invested hugely in preparing their team.
That ILPREPARATION BY NFF, was always going to rare it’s ugly head at some point. And it eventually did as we finally managed to find out we were short of proper striker and also haven’t practiced enough to take penalties.
THESE ARE AREAS ANY SENSABLE FA WILL NOTE DOWN TO MAKE POSITIVE IMPROVEMENT. BUT TRUST THOSE THIEVES, THEY WILL CHOOSE THE NEGATIVE VINDINCTIVE REACTION AND SACK WALDRUM. THEN EVENTUALLY DESTROY THIS AMAZING TEAM TO START ALL OVER AGAIN.
This team is the only Nigerian team to participate in a Wcup tournament without losing a match in 4 games. Waldrum put in a lot of work creating a very strong defensive network. All that is needed is a creative midfielder who can create chances. A fit Okobi could have helped this team.
Gift Monday could have been a better option than Ordega.
I think going forward we need a more reliable attacking option as a substitute for Asisat Oshoala. Ifeoma Onumonu is an average attacker,I can’t remember her making any attacking forays unlike Asisat with those dangerous crosses when she came on.
I am not conversant with our local women’s league but I am sure we have reliable attacking options in the local league. If Randy Waldrum had been watching our local league I am sure a reliable option would have been discovered. Ifeoma Onumonu, with all due respect is an average attacker!
Heheheh you cant remember Onumonu making any attacking forays, but our attack collapsed and lost any bite the moment she was subbed off for agba-isonu. Please take your eyes for proper cleaning. Even Oparanozie had more effect in 10 minutes than the entire 1 hr your overrated World class balon dor nominee was on the pitch.
I am not sure we watched the same match. Our attack had more bite when Asisat came on.
Obviously, we didnt what the same match.
Please go and rewatch it on the FIFA website. But before you do that, go and read the in game comments on the live blog so you dont end up wasting your time watching the match again.
”Our attack had more bite when Asisat came on.”…….Really!!!
Immediately Asisat entered the fray, I knew our attack was dead. Heavy touches, showmanship, name them. Util the cpach has the ball to chop her off that team, we will continue to struggle for goal For crying out loud Asisat should be our Lauren James, our Rapinoe, our Kerr, our Kglatana, with her exposure in European football and long years of playing in the national team. But her performance was below par. And that lack of talent in the final third was largely responsible for our poor scoring rate.
Abeg helps us tell that one up there.
When a team has a player who has played in Arsenal, Liverpool and now Barcelona, you expect her to be the difference maker every time she suits up for the National team.
Lets not even talk of the bigger footballing teams, Lets talk of those in our class. Banda make things happen for Zambia, Kgatlana even made a keeper win MOTM in their last match, Morrocco has Chebbak. Even small girl, 18 year old Linda Caicedo is carrying the hopes of the whole of Colombia. Despite having collapsed twice in this world cup already, they cannot even afford to put her on the bench.
Agba-isonu comes on from the bench when Onumonu had done a good job in wearing the England defence out….just come in, put more pressure, more intensity, more fight and more inspiration, she was there attempting bicycle kicks she has NEVER been successful with before now. She looked so disinterested and disgruntled, couldnt win any aerial duels on even hold balls under control. Football sense ZERO.
The chance similar to the one she missed vs Ireland was what Foord of Australia scored today to put them 1 up vs Denmark. By the time Sam Kerr came on, you could really see how an agba baller should carry herself and her team.
This one was just unconcerned as if her beef with Onome and Oparanozie has not yet been settled.
On a good day, she should be the one stepping up for the 1st penalty and not Desire Oparanozie. But she was probably waiting for the final penalty so she can hug the spotlight once more. Nonsense.
Azizat was rubbish
We will surely forgive them for not making the quarter finals foe the9r gallantry.
What a performance from the Super Falcons,its a quarter final worthy performance,have to be honest here I didn’t expect this performance from our SF both collectively and individually especially ash plumptre and Christy ucheibe.
Now the onus is on the tactless NFF to do the needful in terms of adequate funding, planning and preparation as well as a proper football program setup to further build on the gains of this World cup cos we’re a country known for its 2 steps forward 1 step backward approach in sports.
Is it me or is anyone else seeing the looming exit of Randy Waldrum as coach due to the pre tournament fracas, would’ve loved to have him a bit longer. anyways should that be the case I wonder who’s going to brought in and if the person is qualified enough.
As for today’s opponents,they were poor cos they underestimated us and will need to massively improve if they’re to break their own world cup jinx, although they were there for the taking especially after that red card we lacked the technical nous to really stretch, dismantle and exploit them and go for the kill(which I’ll blame the Nff for due to their shoddy preparation plans and shenanigans) but all the same this was a noteworthy performance,a world cup where The SF came of age. Bravo Super Falcons.
I hail these ladies. You girls are world class
For the first time in our world cup history, we did not lose a single game in regulation time. 3 clean sheets.
One can only imagine what these ladies would have achieved if NFF ONIGBESE had been there for the coach and the team.
They did a great job today. A pulsating game. As Tope Adeola said, sometimes failure can also be beautiful.
I would be very surprised if Waldrum continues as the coach. On the basis of the team’s performance, I imagine that many more serious federations and clubs around the world would be looking at hiring him after his exploits at this world cup.
He just said he wants to continue in post match interview. He should get his assistant back even though Dr. Terry Eguaoje did a yeoman’s job in her absence
If he is to stay then I think he should watch a few of our local matches, then he should be made to watch our local league. We have more Oshoalas, more Onumonus in the local league.
If Waldrum is to stay, then I suggest he gets himself an attacking coach.
Defensively, his tactics are superb, but attacking wise, we seem to have no attacking nous going forward. Chances created are usually few and far between, and the gap between the CF, the WFs and the CAM is always the size of the Atlantic Ocean. Attacking has become a problem for the SF ever since he was appointed. And it was laid bare even more openly today.
The attacking resources to sink England is what we lacked today, and I bet that game could have gone on for another 2 hrs and we still wouldnt have been able to score.
I dont see this allegedly cash strapped NFF goign for another foreign coach in the mould of the Morrocan Coach, and I dont see them swallowing their ego either after Waldrum hung them out in the sun with his 2 quick fire music-charts toppiing hit singles just befoe this world cup.
Randy has done himself some good by using the SF to sell his wares at this world cup, Im seeing better offers coming for him elsewhere than whatever peanuts NFF offers him that never gets paid.
But all these arent even my fear, my fear is the next boyboy they will prefer to install as coach. We saw Danjuma and Olowokere at the U17 and U20 WC’s and there was nothing interesting in their tactical set ups, more Ladan Bosso-ish in outlook.
Edwin Okon could have been a better option but his utterances at the 2015 WC where he told the whole world in a press conference that he doesnt need to scout his opponents before a game but within the first 10 – 15 minutes into the game, gives him off as a completely outdated guy.
Unless we have another Rena Wakama amongst our exinternatinals who are curently active. I know Mercy Akide is currently asst coach in the US collegiate and Maureen Madu used to coach a club in Norway too, but really, I cant vouch for any of them to build on what Randy has built thus far. Maybe the NFF can test them with the youth teams first and lets see what theyve got.
Who knows, with better support from the NFF, Waldrum might have come up with solutions for our misfiring attack, instead of wasting valuable time in a tug of war with the NFF over nonpayment of due compensation.
Our focus now should be on the fast approaching Olympic qualifiers and the next Afcon. Hopefully, we can build on what has been accomplished so far, but with this NFF, that might be expecting too much!
Congrats. even though you lost, you made africa so proud. The coach should be promoted to the Super Eagles together with the physical trainer, they did a wonderful.
Cant beat a 10 man team and a team that was missing most of its star players
@Shuma
Can you even kick ordinary orange?
I just hope we can build on this success. Anyway it is Naija I won’t be surprised if we take another ten steps backwards. Something tells me Waldrum should just walk away, but I’m yet to see any better coach the NFF can afford unless they go back to a local coach they can bully around. We came back unbeaten from the WorldCup for the first time in our history both make and female. All thanks to the determination and discipline imbibed in the team by the gaffer. Let’s see how we can make the Olympics and also claim back our title at the next WAFCON.
**Male and female**
Nigeria was NOT the better team. The falcons were purely mediocre in front of goal. There is a reason no African team has won a knockout game at the female world cup.
Really? Like seriously? Can you hear yourself? So what can you say about USA, Germany that bowed out earlier? Were they mediocre in front of goal too? If Nigeria was not the better team, how come number 40 in the world holding out number 4 in the world in 120 mins of play not forgetting that penalties could have gone either way!
Please learn to appreciate good football!
Which good football? The Falcons played 0-0 in 3 of the 4 games played at the Mundial and you think such a blunt attack stands any chance of progressing? If the English ladies dominated us and created all these opportunities, do you think the game would have even gone to extra time? Even playing against 10 players, they couldn’t score.
Falcons threw the game away and lost a golden opportunity to write their name in gold. Continue glorifying mediocrity.
@Kola
Bro, you be correct bad belle. It stinks badly to realise you can’t appreciate the efforts of a FIFA number 40 against A FIFA number 4.
When we tell you to always leave the coach to do his work Una no go gree. See Oparanozie wey una dey clamouring for tey they? I think the coach brought her in probably because of the penalty but she fluffed it. I’m not trying to blame her but if she had scored that penalty after England lost theirs the moral would have been high cos her losing and England scoring the second kick demoralised the spirit.If Waldrum didn’t brought her in for the match people here would criticize that Oparanozie would have been a better fit for penalties anyway, it was a good game by the girls but luck wasn’t on our side better luck next time and to coach Waldrum I think you are the champion because you really won your yeye FA agabada people your tactics were fantastic and to be candid I have never seen a super falcons play with so much flair and confident like this. Isn’t the English team who have blowned a lots of teams off in this tournament that your team lost unluckily to today even the BBC pundits said their the were lucky to go through as super falcons were the better team.
@Kola I agree with you. Defense alone do not win games. The girls got this for due to their desire to win. I dont agree that this part-time coach is better for us, we need a real full time coach.The coach threw this game away with his substitutions, removing Kanu who was our best chance at getting a goal and replacing her with a fumbling Ordega who has past her prime is dubious Gift Monday would have been a better replacement. No one expected much from the team do we are carried a way with these lapses.
It is true that the team actually played their hearts out. To me, the team was setup too defensively. As a result, we struggled to score goals except for the three goals against Australia, which had elements of luck, we could have ended the tournament without scoring. We could not shoot and when the shots are taken, they were usually very weak except for the cracker by Plumptre.
This team played more like the Thomas Denerby tutored team built around solid defence and little foray upfront.
Going forward, I think we may need a coach that believes in a little here and a little there, that is a combo of solid defence and strong attack. The long balls did not help us today and most shockingly, we were still attack shy even with a one man advantage! Goals win matches and not goalless draws!
Nigeria was NOT the better team and the level of mediocrity was too glaring. We played Ireland for 90 minutes, not a single goal. We played England (down to 10 players) for 120 minutes and we could not score a single goa, that is not a team that can win tournaments. Our girls consistently display lack of football intelligence, aka “Common Sense” on the pitch of play. On top of that, we were also unfortunate to have a coach that is technically and tactically deficient.
But the genesis of it is our football administration that is rotten to the core. Corruption will not let us develop the game and subsequently select players based on merit.
We had no business losing this game today, especially after James’ red card.
This is the plain truth Baba, but Nigerians keep celebrating a loss in a very winnable game. This is the mentality that ensured Africa has never won a knockout game at the female world cup.
@Jaybee… You are the only man here whose submission I consider solid and factual.
We like to celebrate mediocrity as a country. Go and watch the Spanish female team or the Japanese female team. What stops us playing at that level?
We should stop all these nonsense of hiring foreigners and let our people who are capable take the job and do something better. I dont know Mr. Drum Waldrum has achieved since the mangled-lipped Amaju Pinnick brought him upon us.
They keep recycling old players who are past their prime, what was Ebi’s use in this worldcup? Ordega, and Oshoala who never turns up in key moments? I have seen younger girls like that Ajekaiye girl and others do a better job with the ball.
When we are ready for serious football business we will tell ourselves the truth. Of all people to hire as a coach of a football team in Nigeria, it’s a clueless American who no one knows in his country.
We played 10 vs 11 for a crucial high-profile, high-stakes elimination game and the numerical advantage did not even show. Common people… we failed. The team has nothing to offer offensively. Let’s tell the truth.
if this team had met Germany, it would been a clean sheet. The team is good but luck wasn’t on our side today. We will be back in the Olympic.
if this team had met Germany, it would have been a clean sheet. The team is good but luck wasn’t on our side today. We will be back in the Olympic.
@Jaybee, that team did not have enough preparation and they still performed well. What would you say for South African team that had enoguh preparation or Zambia?
Retire with immediate effect
Ebi
Oparanoze
Ordega
Yewande
Oluehi
Bring in
Rita Ariyo
Zogg
Sebastian
Ajakaye after U20
Onyenezide
And some other really good dual nationals that wants to play for Nigeria.
We have some good players to take over the baton. In all honesty we lack the attacking verve all through the tournament with the exception of Ajibade and Kanu. Very solid defense and good midfield. Advancing the ball well in the final third was our undoing and it showed in crucial moments. I can’t blame anyone as they all contributed their quotes.
Congrats to the team let’s hope they make the Olympic. We lost the war, but this team win the battle.
I hope we qualify for the Olympics too…..its just next year….and its not an underaged tournament yet. So it will still be the senior national teams participating.
We still have Nicole Payne now in PSG, Onyiyechi Zogg in Wolfsburg or so in Germany (I stand to be corrected tho) a few young lasses from the U20s and more dual nationality players ready to suit up for us.
Lets hope the NFF will not go to sleep after now and wake up 1 week to the qualifiers and remember the team has no coach. Because I presume whatever contracts NFF signed with Waldrum expires after this world cup,
Yes O Dr. Drey. I think we need to continue to harness the best of our diaspora born talents then blend them with the best of our U teams. This team has 4 in our starting 11 and the remaining 7 are mostly from our U system over the last decade.
We’ve now made it to the knockout stages in back to back women WorldCups for the first time under foreign coaches. Nigerians needs to outgrow the expressive all out attack then we expose ourselves at the back against top teams. They will always take advantage because they’re also organized.
If we are really serious about continuously competing with the worlds best at the highest level we need to overhaul our football and in fact our entire sports administrations.
These ladies played for their careers and the monetary rewards from FIFA. Obviously, they represent Nigeria because we’ve dominated Africa for a long time. No team will have all those quagmire from their FA and go that far in a WorldCup. We all know what happened to Canada that didn’t even had a fraction of our issues before the WorldCup.
For me thumbs up to the gallant ladies. Everyone of them deserves their flowers.
NFF that wants to save petrodollars for themselves will not invite more diaspora players oh. After tug of war with waldrum even rejecting the female assistant.
Brother para for this one lol. Lmaoo@ with immediate effect. I think onyenezide can be groomed for that holding midfield role.
Can someone pinpoint the contribution of Onuomonu to this team ? I stand to be corrected but it appears to me that she is the luckiest Nigerian player I have seen in recent years.
Game 1: less than 45% in passing rate
Game 2: Zero attempt at goal
Game 3: zero attempt at goal
Game 4: zero attempt at goal
Zero goal, Zero assist for someone that calls herself a striker !!
Even our central defenders had better statistics in attack than her.
What a waste of space !!
Wow! We thank God for her! They’ve all tried.
God bless onumonu, God bless Oshoala and the rest of the squad. They’ve really canceled the pain of the last WAFCON in my heart.
Larry, you are right with those stats but playing as a compact unit was what brought Nigeria far in this tournament.
Key to that were the strikers tracking back, winning the ball, recycling possession and helping the team maintain its shape. In all of these, Onumonu played her part well.
Recall, Nigeria only scored in 1 out of all 4 games we played. So, in games against Canada, Ireland and England, whatever criticisms you lay on the door of Onumonu will apply to all the other Super Falcons strikers.
Game 1: How many attempts at goal did Agba-isonu have – Zero
Game 2: How many attempts at goal did Agba-isonu have – 1 Greek gift from a defensive mix up
Game 3: How many attempts at goal did Agba-isonu have – 1 blasted to the corner flag when put clean through 1-1 with the keeper
Game 4: How many attempts at goal did Agba-isonu have – Zero Several useless bicycle kicks attempts (albeit unsuccessfully) from wayward distances away from goal.
How many goals has Agba-isonu scored in competitive games for Nigeria since Waldrum took over – 1 goal (a gift from Alana Kennedy of Australia)
How many goals has “waste of space” Onumonu scored in competitive games for Nigeria since Waldrum took over – 4
At least “waste of space” Onumonu comes from lowly Gotham FC but gives her all and covers ground, unlike a Barcelona FC balon dor nominee we nearly mistook for Naija Ratels rookie due to her ineffectiveness. By far the biggest flop of this world cup. I cant recall any other high profile player who has not lived up to the name so far.
Who brought Demehin to super falcons need to hold my beer. Very assured. We may not have scored goals but our defense was maddd!!!!
We must tell ourselves the truth, we are retrogressing. Nigeria has participated in every FIFA Women’s World Cup since it started in 1991 and we have never gotten past the second round. Some might say we qualified for the quarter finals in 1999 but the reason was because it used to be 16 teams and qualified teams normally progress to the quarter finals from the group stage. So, technically, it was a still a second round.
But here we are celebrating a loss as a form of achievement, when in reality we are on a decline and oblivious of the fact that other nations are already catching up.
It is high time Nigerians rose up against NFF shenanigans and corruption. Enough is enough, NFF must give excellence, fairness, and equity a chance, so that this game that we all love so much can truly develop and thrive at all levels.
Olympics qualifiers has already started and Nigeria will be playing against Ethiopia in October. Now is the time to commence effective and solid plans.
Find and select the right players – I mean girls who have it in them
Find a coach that is capable of effectively demonstrating and explaining essential football IQ to these players, ensuring they understand the correct techniques and how to execute them. It is imperative that we hire a coach who understands tactical concepts and how they align with technical skills.
God bless everyone who has commented so far and God bless Nigeria.