Rasheedat Ajibade will lead Nigeria’s senior women team when they confront their Japanese counterparts in a prestigious international friendly match in Kobe on Thursday.
Regular skipper Onome Ebi is only just recovering from an injury sustained at the Women Africa Cup of Nations finals in Morocco in July and Spain-based forward Asisat Oshoala is not in Kobe for this encounter.
The precocious Ajibade scored three of Nigeria’s goals in Morocco, including the winner against Cameroon in the quarter-finals that qualified the nine-time African champions to the FIFA Women’s World Cup finals in Australia and New Zealand next year.
First choice goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie is available, alongside defenders Michelle Alozie, Osinachi Ohale, Ashleigh Plumptre and Glory Ogbonna, as well as midfielders Ngozi Okobi-Okeoghene, Christy Ucheibe and Deborah Abiodun, and forwards Ifeoma Onumonu and Uchenna Kanu.
Read Also: Friendly: Waldrum Anticipates Tough Duel against Japan
Also in Kobe are goalkeeper Peace Obidinma, defenders Jumoke Alani and Akudo Ogbonna, midfielders Peace Efih and Esther Onyenezide, and forwards Amanda Uju Mbadi and Flourish Sebastian.
Abiodun, Obidinma, Alani, Onyenezide and Sebastian were in the Nigeria U20 squad at the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup in Costa Rica in August.
The Super Falcons, ever-present at the FIFA Women’s World Cup, take on former world champions Japan at the Noevir Stadium, Kobe as from 4.30pm Japan time (8.30am Nigeria time) on Thursday.
Both teams have clashed only once at competitive level – at the 2004 Olympic Women’s Football Tournament. Nadeshiko pipped the Falcons 1-0 at the Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus on 14thAugust 2004. Two back-to-back friendlies in 2013 were won 2-0 each by Nadeshiko.
Thursday’s match comes less than a month after the Super Falcons embarked on a two-match tour of the United States of America, where they played the USWNT in Kansas City and Washington DC.
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COMMENTS
The game is on already have tried hesgoal unfortunately not on,should anyone know where to see the game pls post links ty
it’s on YouTube just type Nigeria vs Japan livestream…
Who else is watching. Early exchanges and the girls are holding their own shape wise. Japan does look quicker with their movement and play and have the best chance thus far but goalie did well coming off her line to snuff out the one on one chance. Im however observing that our ladies dont really have an idea of what they want to do with the ball especially after they recover possession. They give the ball away too cheaply
That no 14 na Karate she suppose go fight lol
Please how did the no 14 manage to get into this team. She is absolutely a short one and a no, no for this team.
How can we utilize these friendlies the prepare for the WC when we never have the full complement of players invited…. Vivian the no 14 that replaced Ucheibe is playing as a midfielder due to shortage of players.
After a largely uninspiring first half by the falcons, they sprung to life at about the 45th minute. This is when they recorded their first shot on target and they went on to attempt four shots the highlight of which was a thunderous shot by Plumptre from 20 yards out that was seemingly destined for the top corner before the intervention of the Japanese goalie. More of that please
The defence has done quite well but there is absolutely no midfield….I wonder why Ayinde was not invited.
Indeed. Hardly any link up play. Tough to create chances when you can’t keep the ball for more than two passes if that
Fid you notice that Waldrum is actually playing 5 midfielders. She pushed the lady that is supposed to be at the left back up field and most of the time you have Plumtre, Alozie and Ohale at the back. Still the midfield is none existence in this match. As for the attack I don’t know what to say.
Half time now. The scoreline remains 0-0 Nigeria had a goal disallowed though.
Vivian Ikechukwu (number 14) is being played out of position in replacing a defensive midfielder who got injured.
She normally plays a more attacking role.
But that does not say she should be playing Karate now. She is an easy red card in a full fledge match!
Try playing Iheanacho in Ndidi’s role and sit back to marvel at what plays out!
@ deo, you still didn’t answer the question. Alozie is a striker/forward player in her club. Why is she not playing karate in the national team ever since Waldrum turned her to a defensive player.
Playing a player out of position does not mean that the player should go and be playing karate on the pitch. This only happens when a players lacks ABC knowledge of football.
You call it Karate, she calls it robust tackle! 🙂
Oga you make me laugh. Make she just try no collect red card o because dem don dey lose already.
An unfortunate penalty conceeded especially when the fouled player was offside to begin with. Refs missed that but in truth the falcons have been poor this half
When substituted Okobi I knew the midfield would collapse…
Waste of time watching this match. Nigeria is playing like Kenya or Ghana. No improvements all ..
Nigeria will make the numbers at the world cup. Just like ghana will do in qatar
I didn’t expect us to outplay Japan and I know they are a better female team but Waldrum is a clueless fool and bereft of any tactical ideas.
The reality is staring us in the face. But NFF and a lot of us are not accepting this. Waldrum has taken super falcons more than 20 years back. She has taken us back to the era of 1991 when super falcons first went to the world cup. Even in 1991 we had Rachel Yamala, Nkiru Okosieme, Uche Eucheria, Florence Omagbemi, Ann Agumanu etc. These players were and are better than this current set of player. To cap it up they had a better coach in the person of Ismaila Mabo. But Waldrum? He is just an apology.
Why can’t Nigeria play full 90 mins against a strong opponent without conceding?Must we always lose against strong opponents?We are a footballing nation sometimes we should wins big games too!
Unfortunately, this team under Waldrum can win matches. Even in Africa, he is already a suspect.
Just saw Japan win 2-0 on my notifications, didn’t even know the match was on but judging by some comments here a combination of circumstances and a lack of cohesion meant we were going to lose this match but the fact that the girls drew Japan at halftime should be viewed as a positive and nothing else.
A team in dire need of quality midfielders and yet didn’t invite this Echegini of a girl, beats me. Maybe she is injured or asked to be left out. Anyway the girls tried but need up their energy level through some rigorous endurance training.