Uche Eucharia, a former Nigeria international has lamented Super Falcons 1-0 defeat to hosts France in their Monday night’s last Group A game of the ongoing 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup, Completesports.com reports.
The former Super Falcons coach told Completesports.com that the Nigerian girls gave good account of themselves and deserve to progress to the Round of 16 even if as one of the four best third-placed teams.
“It was really tough, our girls gave their all but it’s sad that they lost,” Eucharia, a former women’s AFCON winner said.
Uche Eucharia
“We deserve to qualify even if it is as one of the best third-placed teams.”
Eucharia notes that the Falcons sat back too much especially in the first half. She also remarks that the sending off of Ngozi Ebere further weakened the team, gifting the hosts an advantage.
“Yes, it (Ebere’s sending off) added salt to the injury. In games like this, playing one man down is always difficult,” Eucharia remarked.
“Your opponent easily takes such advantage and that’s exactly what happened.
Ngozi Ebere gets the marching order
“But then, we as a team, still have a long way to go in the game.”
Eucharia recalls that in 2011, the Super Falcons lost 1-0 to France after a heavy defeat in a pre-tournament friendly.
“Similar scenario played out this time around,” she explains.
“Before this tournament, Falcons lost 8-0 to France in a friendly in November last year.
“And at the World Cup, they edged Falcons 1-0. I won’t say its an improved performance except if Falcons qualify as one of the four best third-placed teams.
“It will be sad if we exit the tournament at this stage this way,” the Heartland Queens of Owerri coach stressed.
By Sab Osuji
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COMMENTS
The permutation and combination has started. Nigeria still has a slim chance to go through to the round of 16.
I forsee that the Group 3rd place teams in A,B,C,D will qualifier for the next while E and F will not make it. That means Nigeria,China,Brazil and Agentina/scotland will go through.
key matches to watch
GroupD
Argentina vs Scotland if it ends in draw it favours Nigeria, Any winner in this match will defintely qualifier ahead of us.
GroupE
Cameroon vs NewZealand : Any winner in this match with a 2 goal lead will qualifier ahead of us
GroupF
Chile (GD-5)vs Thailand(GD-17) : If Chile can win Thailand with more than 3 goals then they qualifier ahead of us
If only one of these conditions are met, then Nigeria will qualify.
But I personally don’t see this 3 possibilities happening. One may happen but I doubt the 3 or 2, so I still believe we can go through.
Welldone Super Falcons, you have already proven that you are African champions and no pushovers on the world stage.