Super Falcons of Nigeria held Ethiopia to a 1-1 draw in the first leg, second round of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games qualifiers in Addis Ababa on Wednesday, Completesports.com reports.
Ethiopia took a shock lead in the 6th minute thanks to Birkie Amare, who slotted home from a goal mouth scramble.
In the 52nd minute the Falcons equalised through captain Rasheedat Ajibade, who volleyed home a long long range shot from out the box.
Also Read: 2026 WWC: Ajayi Doubtful For Lesotho, Zimbabwe Games
The Falcons thought they had grabbed the winner in the 92nd minute as substitute Ifeoma Onumonu headed home but it was ruled out for offside.
England-born Rinsola Babajide made her debut for the Falcons after coming on in the 71st minute.
The second leg will come up on Tuesday, October 31 in Abuja.
After making a first appearance at the Olympics in Sydney 2000 and going on to feature at Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008, the Falcons have failed to qualify for the last three editions.
They failed to qualify for London 2012, Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020.
68 Comments
We haven’t qualified for the past 3 Olympics…..I am hoping drastic steps are taken lol. If we are able to beat Ethopia we still have to contend with the winner of Uganda/Cameroun.
Less than a week to play the second leg. When will Waldrum arrive and take charge of this team? NFF wanted to gamble with their Nigerian assistant pulling a fantastic result away, but there was clearly no coaching, no direction in the girls’ play. It was just sheer talent and grit on display, no clear tactical input.
If we play Uganda/Cameroun like this, then we should kiss the Olympic ticket goodbye. Cameroun, who’ll likely be the opponents if we go past Ethiopia, will be playing like wounded lionesses. We stopped them from going to the last World Cup and they’re already out of the next WAFCON.
To me we won 2-1, there was absolutely no offside in that 2nd goal.
Thank God you said “to you”.
Of course we can’t control whatever you choose to see or not see.
Even the players on the pitch right there and then knew it was the right call.
Onumonu that nodded the ball home was clearly on side, the other player in front seems to be offside but was she actually interfering with the play?? Very debatable. The camera’s focus on the lines woman after the replays is an evidence that she actually goofed for raising her flag. I am sure, has there been VAR available the goal would have been given.
Oga go back to YouTube and rewatch the build up and stop arguing blindly.
Forward the clip to 2:12:57 when chiamaka played the goalkick and pause it immediately onumonu nodded it to Ajakaye after the bounce. Ajakaye had strayyed offside by then.
Know that and know peace.
The ref denied Ethiopia 2 clear penalties in the 42nd minute when our no 4 handled the ball and in first half injury time when our no 13 also handled the ball….I guess “to you” those were not penalties too.
Cut your bias.
The game ended 1:1 period.
Everyone should go home and prepare better for the return leg.
Why are arguing with an aged man, who is losing his sight gradually, if their was VAR in that game that was a clear goal. And his stupid argument about the handball, maybe he needs conclave glasses to see that an Ethiopian player was off-side which was the call of the refs. Please don’t waste your precious time arguing with a confused person. @omonja abeg let him continue with his ranting we will be ok.
@Drey, I was so
Civil in my comment and that’s an opinion, which one is “arguing blindly”??? Can we all comport ourselves maturely on this platform plsss.
@ Emmecco, there is nothing uncivil or immature about the word “arguing blindly”, because you actually are.
From your comment, The fact that you cannot identify where the offside incident took place says it all. Cameras focus on referees when there is both a good call and a bad one, using that as the basis for your assertion epitomises the blindness of your argument.
Debate the merits of your position, not the syntax of my comment. Even CSN humbly accepts their goofs and move on without creating a drama around it.
@ Kenneth Opuro j’oboru
You are back again after being stripped naked the other day….LMAOoo. I guess the few days off you took has helped you recover from that sucker punch, you have shamelessly reared your long pig mouth to come and argue blindly again as you always do……LMAOoo.
We all know you are dumb so your antics are not a surprise to me anymore…you will even argue there are not 7 days in one week but 23…..LMAOooo…so far Dr.Drey says it 7. That is how daft you are….LMAOoo
Your so-called clear goal does not even need VAR for people who have IQ as low as 30%, they just need to watch the highlights below or via this link youtube.com/watch?v=0gNHG7jGOts and pause it at 8:05, 8:06 and 8:07 to see that as at when Onumonu jumped to contest and touched that ball in the air with the Ethiopian last woman, Ajakaye had taken 1 step ahead of the last woman and thus strayed offside.
The rules of football are that simple, except for imbeciles who put their long mouths into things they know no jack about…..LMAooo. Shebi an goal, ngwa go use pencil and eraser change the final scoreline an….Okponu.
And again, give the clip to someone around you that has sense to watch….tell the person to watch the cornerkick taken at 4:19 of the clip that hit the outstretched hand of no the SF 4….that wasn’t a penalty abi…..LMAOoo.
And in your village, when the ball is played to a teammate but the opponent intercepts it with the hand before it gets to the teammate who isn’t actively offside or interfering with the play at that time, an offside call is the right call too abi….LMAOoo. Olodo rapata…!!!
Go school dem no go go, dem go say education an scam….LMAOoo
Okponu alainilara oshi.
As a matter of fact, you should be thanking God there was no VAR, otherwise the SF could have gone into the halftime break 3 goals down, cos those 2 clear penalties ain’t not escaping VAR till eternity….LMAOoo
Learn henceforth to shut your gutters on things you know no jack about…LMAOoo. You hear….LMAOoo
What pains me most for you is the fact that somepeople were rejoicing they have given birth to a child the day you were born……LMAOoo
Video evidences dont lie…..LMAOoo
Minute 4:19
Minute 4:54
Minute 8:05
Cheap liar Kenneth Opuro j’oboru claims 4:54 is offside but 8:05 isn’t…..LMAOoo. That is how you know people who are pathological liars….LMAOoo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gNHG7jGOts
@ Drey, it’s like you derive so much pleasure at insulting people even when the person did not deserve it? How can’t you understand that the word ” arguing blindly” is derogatory ?? Anyway, I won’t join issues with you. I have noticed that you are willing to take on anyone, that’s the Liberty of Social media, We are not seeing ourselves one-on-one, so you can tell anyone anything you like without any sense of remorse. I know you would meet your waterloo very very soon.
CAF IS killing African football, is there VAR at the World Cup qualifier 2026? if not it might count against us, In the past 2 friendlies I think Saudi paid for their own VAR but against Medegasger our players just gave up at the end, I saw a few penalties, and off-side that should have been more goals for us, the referee decided to play god.
CSN what sort of stupid headline is this. Do Nigerians not understand journalism. Who is doing the holding to a draw. Is it the mighty Falcons or Ethiopia.what rubbish why must Nigerians be so weird. Let me remind you Ethiopia held Super Falcons to a draw not the other way Round mumu Journalists mtcheeew!!!
Nigeria held them to draw because we came from a goal down to tie the scores. But na shame to Nigeria sha!!!
God bless you Ugo.
I was angry when I saw the topic.
Nigeria goal at 92mins was a clear goal.
CS has done nothing wrong with the headline because the tie ended 1-1 and Ethiopia was the first to score and this simply means we held them to a draw after coming back from a goal down. Your argument of offside goal cancellation has no business in this regard. Myself I saw the goal from a back angle which seems onside but maybe from other angle it might be off or on that one you can check on naijabias channel on YouTube for that update.
I have always maintained that you are such an illiterate. Did you go to school at all? The team that scores the equalizer is the one that holds the other team to a draw. Olodo.
Sunny your comment doesn’t make you more educated because anyone can make mistakes, and the Ugo I know is not an illiterate. Huh this sort of comment you made is what creates war of words on forum.
You are both birds of a feather. Both of you are incurable tribalists. And yes, I am more educated. For your information I am a full Professor at a reputable University in the US. Just so you know.
FYI you dey mad, the fact that you’re using a country to brag about your achievements tells how shallow minded and underachieving you’re. Be fooling yourself about USA that anyone can reside in and do business as a major achievement Yeye dey smell!!!
Coming from you who once bragged about living in Ghana and being married to a Ghanaian lawyer…..this comment made me laugh so bad I spilt my tea….LMAOoo
Your father and the rest of your family are all insane. I know you sell spare parts and you don’t deserve my time. For your information, I do not brag about the US. You said I was not more educated than your friend and I tried to set you straight. Yes, being a Professor in the US is an achievement. Of course, you would not appreciate this since all you and your family do is sell second-hand spare parts in Ghana. Psycho
Charlatan your display of ignorance is not different from that of the streets of Colorado. I respect certain forumites and I don’t have to be friends with them to answer to cheap animals like you who tends to act amateurish at the least of chance. Only on this page we have witch doctors just like another quack professor has also resurfaced nothing way we no go see for CS. Very soon you people will be commenting with yourselves as una get something in common(Mental Case).
Wow that’s heavy!
Make I buy popcorn so I go dey enjoy d vawulence on display care 2 join?…..omo dis one deep o
not sure though…but, i think CSN is right..Ethiopia is the one hosting, we are the visitor to them
This has nothing to do with hosting, read the thread and you’ll understand what we’re saying that anyone who scores first is been held when the match ends in draw, and in this regard Ethiopia scored first. Na this simple thing one mumu use dey form professor in USA. Too many liars on CS these days making forum disgusting, coz only a Quack professor will talk the way the idiot spoke to someone just because of a little mistake he made.
Hopeless being, If I send you my name and you google it. I promise, you would be really gentle and full of respect. For your information, I am not just a run of the mill Professor, I am a tenured Professor of Molecular Pharmaceutical Scences. There is no need for me to lie about it. You made me speak about it. You bonehead.
Craze don dey worry you ni? What’s my business with your gimmicks??? Take your nonsense out of my space it’s like your skonskon doesn’t know where it will lead you again. You come up here typing nonsense about you been a professor, do you think that’s a career I crave for or value? Compared to other quality discipline how many billionaire professors do we have here in the US that’s making you fool around? Listen well once again take your nonsense away from me and tell your stories to the refugees. Las las where I go enter na sack them go sack you. Yeye pikin na so una go dey use internet dey enter person anyhow.
Although I’m not a spare part dealer but from your ignorance those spare part dealers will feed you and your generations if you know anything about business. From the look of things I’m chatting with an ignorant fraud boy parading and thinking highly of himself due to inferiority complex. By their fruit we shall know them una plenty wey dey tarnish the image of Nigeria all over the world with delusion and self deceptions. A Quack professor come here named Sunny how pathetic for someone with name that he’s not proud of. Everything is up for the wise to see because there’s nothing hidden under sun. My Asian session has come to an end and I will not be spending anymore time with an ignorant spy who choose the wrong person to manipulate with his Hullabaloo.
After all that is been said SF need a strong headed coach to put an end to the strikers honeymoon of loosing goals upon goals.
I have said it here many times…. The so called ‘agba baller* is overrated and too stiff to be a striker of Super Falcons… She lost many open chances she aught to have buried. How many open chances can you get? Left with goal keeper sprawling on the ground after a rebound in the 4th minute only for Oshoola to just tap in, due to inflexible body structure, she put the ball over the bay. So many clean chances a player of her caliber playing for Barcelona should have buried…A player that scores 10% of her open chances is of no use to us…..she is not good enough…..
Thanks @Olu for your honest observation,to some here she never goes wrong!
Thanks Olu, I thought i was the only one that saw it, truth be told Agba baller is no more inspirational, the worst was in the last world cup, this has been her trade in stock at the national level, to me she is the female version of Chikwueze of the super eagles.
She should be confronted with these laikadaisical attitude, if she doesn’t change then she should be relegated to the bench
To me, Oshoala denied us the needed victory.
To God be the glory and I give kudos to our local coaches for some reasons.
No1. They selected strong first 11, and they made fantastic subs in the second half.
But our players were match rusty. Super Falcons were too heavy and couldn’t make a clear cut of their chances.
Again, all the blame should go to the NFF. They are pulling our football down every day.
Oshoala needs our prayers. The young lady has been struggling to be on her feet quite some times at the national team.
I love the way Onumonu started the second half of the match. She is a good player no doubt but she has to know that country football is totally different from club football. I hope Oga Waldrum will talk to his players when they are playing Ethiopia at home here in Nigeria.
Lastly, Dr.Drey, let me have your ears. Please stop bulling people on this forum. Enough of this. Thus getting out of hand that is why I am reaching out to you today.
Can’t you make your submission without antagonizing someone?
Abide by the rules and regulations of this site now.
You can see now that everyone is making his own contribution without fighting anybody. If you continue this way, then we have to vote against you, and CSN has no choice but to kick you out of this forum.
Please behave yourself.
This is the last warning, and if you don’t stop bulling people, CSN has to do the needful.
I wish our Super Falcons the best. Ire o. God bless Nigeria!!!
The dumb boy reeks of ammonic arrogance, internal anger, and depression. Arm chair coach lol knows everything but is a nobody
Hahahah @omo9ja …so this cold war is still on????. I thought that with the exit of rohr (your nightmare)u should B calming down by now. Lol. Every time u see @dr drey, u see rohr..lol. How are u my friend @omo9ja Good to be back….ire o! lol
Oshoala is a spent force and no longer has the spark. She has no place in modern day football. Gone were the days when we rely on ‘kick and follow style of football which is typical of Oshoala. She can hardly beat an opponent one on one talkless of creating scoring chances and when scoring chances are created for her, she fluffs nine out of ten…. No wonder she is no longer a starter in her club, Barcelona. The more painful is she only plays garbage time when the match(es) have been won or lost. She is not dependable…..
Oshoala is a spent force. She is a drag. A liability of a high magnitude. It is a shame to see how she fluff a glaring opportunity to score over and over again. How she is still playing for Nigeria is far beyond reason. Omo9ja made a lot of folks laugh when he talks of advocating for a ban of our learnt individual, Dr Drey, from this forum. Omo0ja is blinded to see the goodness of Dr Drey, all because of his moral stand against the way & manner that the former NFF sacked Oga Rohr. Folks, stop troughing tantrum on Dr Drey in this place. l am in support of the way he could hit back at those who insult him first. Live the doctor Drey alone.
Abeg “bulling” na word? I just say make I ask o una know as e dey be cos anoda vawulence war don start o
Pele o, elenu gbooro, class monitor. Chief Whip of CSN.
Dont just stop at telling CSN to kick Dr.Drey out of this forum, please go further and ask God to kill Dr.Drey, so that the truth and facts that Dr.Drey speaks perpetually on this forum can stop burning your intestines like acid.
If you say the Earth is flat and Dr.Drey says it is round, does that amount to bullying…?
You will tell me if it was your father Dr. Drey bullied you.
See, let me tell you one secret of living long……it is Minding one’s own business always. If you keep poking your nose into matters that concern you not, you will either drop dead suddenly before your time on your own or be dropped by someone.
Dr drey my guyyyyyy. Where have you been all these while that Super Eagles have been playing nonsense back to back??? I’ve been looking for your comments. Are you on twitter? If you are I want to start following you. Please.
@Omo9ja (and KENNETH), well said on several points (including on the phantom “offside”).
I fully expect the Falcons (with more training sessions under their belt, non-biased African officiating, no issues with high altitude, and home support) to run riot over the Ethiopians in Abuja.
PS: Some of you need to ignore crude, crass and childish TROLLS, and starve them of the attention that’s their oxygen.
CS are the once to regulate and censor these people because to see someone like Omo9ja getting pissed is almost impossible. For years these charlatans parading themselves on this page are bent on disrespecting and bringing down people they perceive as well meaning with self worth at all cost, and then they end up disgracing themselves as residing in the States that no successful person should be counting as achievements when their names never enter Billionaire roll. These mango heads are the reason I don’t really come on forum again because there’s a saying that goes Iron Sharpens Iron and since these guys are fake I don’t see why I should be fraternizing freely on here with the self deluded insecure fellows as CSN doesn’t have values for their page to kick out idiots.
Chima, can you please go back to school and learn how to write simple sentences? Reading your posts here gives me headache as you do not know how to spell. You don’t even know the difference between been and being. Typically, all you have to brag about is being rich. For your information, it is not everybody that is driven by money. That being said, I can actually buy you and your parents from just my gains from my patents alone. You worthless tribalist. Bye
Except if this is another Sunny because the Sunny I know will not bring himself down from yesterday to take advantage of someone’s flaw to attack the person and term him illiterate. If it’s you I will advise you to retrace your steps because there’s no need for you to leave a gentle self to join the league of classless charlatans on this forum. It is easy to insult people at will but it is wiser to save your soul and keep peace even when correcting someone.
For multitask purposes I hurriedly type when making submissions on CS because I don’t get paid for any action here and for my field time is money so I don’t see why I have to impress anyone with my English or Expressions here. Who dey live 5star life no dey take selfie for toilet, na who I wan impress for this life??? I respect everyone but I only fear and care about God’s opinion that is why I sometimes feel undone after having to confront some idiots on this page, if this is you not until yesterday that you choose to follow their standard which for me is a poor choice to make. I will leave it here for the sake of my peace and Godly values to allow the world take their stage. I will decrease and let the one who tells me it’s enough to increase.
I think it was a good game. All our players gave a good account of themselves. We played well, but missed a truckload of chances. So many clear chances missed!
Oshoala put herself about, you could see her trying, making effort, but a striker ultimately is judged by production of goals and assists. Perhaps she just needs someone to calm her down. With the pressure coming from expectant fans, she is too eager to deliver. She needs to calm down and compose herself.
Demehin’s defending was top notch. I also like Peace Efih’s long range attempts. She’s not shy to try shots, and her team mates will do well to adopt the same attitude.
What a goal by captain Ajibade! Had to replay that one a few times. Great strike.
Let’s hope NFF sort themselves out and get Waldrum back in there before the return leg.
UGO you are an ILLITERATE I have said it before and THANK GOD say others don know. And for you CHIMA coming here to brag about residing in GHANA and MARRIED to a GHANIAN LAWYER shows that you are suffering from INFERIORITY COMPLEX…..
INFERIORITY COMPLEX is when CHIMA is always bragging that he resides in GHANA….
LMFAO…
Lmao!! CSN should kick out those that started the forum? How can that be possible if not by hallucination? I’ll rather be poor in the US than to be a refugee in Ghana of all places Lmao!! Who cares if you comment here or not? CSN has been around since the early 2000s who are you to dictate to them what to do?? Lmao! Some people can be so myopic and shallow minded in their miserable thinkings SHA. Lmao!! Don’t worry CSN will listen to someone they don’t even know exists. Lmao!! Are you a stakeholder? Are you a board member? Lmao!! Hallucination of the highest order.
FYI fat mouth trying to use me to gain fans as always, when CSN started I don’t even know you. I know of Omo9ja, Oakfield, Kel and some people even though we don’t always share the same opinion. Even Sunny was one of my coolest person not until yesterday because of the way he insulted Ugo for a simple mistake that he can easily correct without calling the guy names. The only thing I know of you is a guy who just came out from the blue and started insulting people like monkey just to gain attention. Huh if that’s how you gain attention of people then you’re as bad as useless. Another thing I will point out from the nonsense you wrote is that only a naive person will try to underrate Nigeria’s neighbor Ghana for whatever reason. My last point is I don’t have to be a big mouth like some of you to start announcing to everyone that I’m a resident of US who recently started having ties with The Wall Street Analyst due to the level of success I have achieved in my field as a financial analyst. It is a testimony that I can beat my chest that I have properties in 3 different countries and at the heart of these countries if you understand my English attention seeker. So blame your handicapped self for been limited to only having a house in US as your achievement. Mr I went to IVY that came here bragging about camping ashawo girls at lekki as an achievement, mumu dey smell, all the IVY pupils I’ve met here never fool around like you. You’re not just classless person but a worthless pig and always a waste of time that I never want to spend conversing with!!!
Shut the F** off and get out here. You are starting to tick me off with your meaningless rants and I have time for you forever. The battle line was drawn from when you decided to be tribalistic. I have aversion towards tribalist and can NEVER be cool with such people. There are many of you here who have this deluded view that your tribe is superior to others. That will never sit well with me.
LMAO you and me battle line you no know your mate Nii??? You and Chima battle line….. Oboy commot for here….. it’s past 7 I can not continue wasting my time with bunch of loud mouthed unfortunate peasants who only feel valuable telling lies about other peoples life to make excuse for their underachievements!!!!
Are you kidding me???
Your response defines your true classless self. Me trying to talk sense into you to keep a life by saving your mouth and soul is what you misread as weakness. Sunny you dey mad seriously speaking and to think you feel I’m walking away from heated exchange is a mistake due to your immaturity.
Huh who’s Tribal here??? My favorite player is a Yoruba if you’re old on this page you’ll know I am a fan of Obagoal. Omo no dey allow mumu dey enter you then carry am reach my side o. Me I don’t have friends here so don’t classify me to your nonsense and please keep your sh.t notice to yourself. Me I speak my mind if an Igbo is doing well side him if otherwise I call him out… so keep your nonsense observation to yourself because it’s not me you’re talking about. Omo watch your mouth o!!!!
I’m a Delta Igbo and I can not even speak my native language because I don’t believe in division and you this funny dude is coming here to make false allegations. Saying what you don’t know just to feel relevant shouldn’t be the way to go. You don show your true color sha but seriously speaking you’ll have a big problem or trouble in real life if you don’t watch your false Judgement. These are my only advise that I will keep to myself but for you….
You think you church rat are in a position to advise me? You overestimate your worth, knucklehead. You and your fellow idiots should get out of your medieval mindset and respect others. Go get a live and stop rambling on this forum.
life***
LMFAO! Hear him ranting “am a delta igbo”..lol. oga you’re worthless in Ghana and at the same time even among your ethnic group you’re also worthless…lol..who considers delta igbo as a real, core igbo? Nobody! You can’t even stay where the real igbo’s from enugu, anambra, imo, abia are gathered..them go give you back sit….
Lol..
Ode! Slave both home and away….
Lol
Lol! Worthless Ghana refugee ranting about how he owns huts in Ghana Lmao!! Go and pull out archives of CSN from 2009 upwards. Even your mini God Ọmọ9ja dem no born am well to claim he started this forum before me. I know how dumb and dull you are so I don’t except less. CSN no sabi your papa.
Werey ṣebi na your mama and sisters be the oloso wey I camped in Lekki. Lmao!! Aṣiere pataki. Miserable dump nincompoop. Your life is so worthless that you can be bragging about shitholes in Ghana at 50 plus imbecile. I’ve been purchasing properties since my early 20s. I don’t need to brag about them because they’re vanity upon vanity.
Show us where your name is on Forbes list? Animal! My Ivy League education alone is enough to feed your entire useless generation.
This LIFE is truely filled with SAMMY LARRY..lol..abeg you people should stop bullying @CHIMA so that he doesn’t end up like MOHBAD..lol…
Dude is beginning to suffer from some mental health issues maybe he can’t stand the bully…I mean how can csn kick out people patronizing them snd making here fun all because of you..
SMH who’s Mohbad or Sammy Larry??? The kind of names or people you follow tells your value so I don’t even know where to start with you because the names you’re calling I don’t even know them…. Just crawl back into your hole and go develop yourself to have a life.
STFU!even SPANISH CLUB CADIZ FC OSHOALA, OSIMHEN and some other FOOTBALL CELEBRITIES knows about the STORY of MOHBAD not to talk about you POVERTY STRICKEN IMBECILE SQUATTING in GHANA….
Or are you telling us that they don’t have value in life?
FOOL!!!
You can brag but we all know that you are as worthless like a used tissue/toilet paper
LMFAO….
Super Flacons vs. Ethiopia (1:1) – Retrospective Review
‘It didn’t end as we expected but the hard work continues’ was the message on the official Super Falcons X handle after yesterday’s rather dour 1:1 draw away to Ethiopia.
In what I now wish to refer to as Wobbly Wednesday, our ladies limped to this disappointing score line in a performance that missed the grace, elegance and panache expected of a team that just made a strong statement in the world cup a few months ago.
This is not to take a dig at the players or everyone involved in priming them for the match.
Individually, I think the players all gave 100 percent, consistent with the level and length of preparation afforded them. But as a “product”, the performance output wasn’t palatable leaving vast areas of improvement which the players can plug in subsequent matches owing to the quality in their ranks.
Birkie Amare had taken advantage of slack defending off a corner kick in just 6 minutes to stab home for the hosts only for Rasheedat Ajibade to produce a moment of magic to blast Nigeria back into the tie from outside the 18 yard box in 52 minutes.
Nigeria Fans have largely slammed the performance as laboured, crude and uninspiring whilst some critics have been less scathing. Premium Times called it “hard fought and improved second half display”; Nigeria Bulletin called the encounter “hard fought and thrilling”; Score Nigeria called it “Disappointing”, with All Nigeria Soccer singling out Ajibade for plaudits due to her leveller.
I share my thoughts below on the encounter:
1. The Super Falcons struggled in the first half to sustain their attacking forays in the first half. They were well contained by Ethiopia.
2. The crosses from the fullbacks lacked the requisite quality in the first half to truly harm the hosts.
3. In fact, several passes were overcooked and not well executed in the first half.
4. The Super Falcons played like a collection of strangers in parts of the first half. There was minimal cohesion in their play and it was impossible to see how they could harm the hosts.
5. Nigeria overall seemed pedestrian in their play. They failed to truly click into gear. Their goal scoring initiatives were delivered sporadically and without intent or credibility.
The few goal scoring opportunities they fashioned out were not clear cut and well dealt with. They seemed clueless as to how to divide-and-conquer the opposition who were very resolute and staunch in repelling Nigeria. It is also worth noting that our threats from set pieces were negligible.
Second Half:
6. We seemed to finally be clicking into gear after the break as there were moments when Ethiopia were on the ropes and made to camp in their own half following sustained Super Falcons pressure.
7. But Nigeria still played more like a collection of individuals at times than a well drilled team. This made easier for Ethiopia to crowd our players out of the ball and force them out of possession.
8. A number of the substitutes made their presence felt particularly Onumonu and Rinsola who peppered Ethiopia on both flanks.
9. The Super Falcons finally became expansive and compelling in their application as the game drew to a close. They fashioned out neat scoring opportunities leading to a goal that was ruled out under controversial circumstances.
10. I have to close by say Rasheedat Ajibade is framing herself to be a big-game player with the sort of performance and impact one would have expected of an Asisat Oshoala.
Overall, I was largely unimpressed with the performance. I had expected the corner leading to Ethiopia’s goal to have been better defended and I expected our players to have fashioned out far more credible, clean-cut scoring opportunities. The deliveries across the park could have been better and their movements far less predictable.
I personally don’t see how Ethiopia will score a single goal in Abuja as they were naive in attack even in front of their own fans. Nigeria should go through to the next round and the Super Falcons manager should devise how to blend the team to play with more cohesion and intent in future qualifiers even with minimal time to train.
Finally someone with a football related post. Maybe CSN should open a fight club/abuse forum where forumites can hurl vermin on one another.
Btw I have a YouTube link about how Xabi Alonso tactics is central to how Victor Boniface plays
Link: https://youtu.be/q-tMawfeCOw?si=XR8bIectBZsQjmxi
Bro, thank God you said our second goal was ruled off in “controversial circumstances” one forumite was abusing me for sharing the same opinion about this same second goal.