Super Falcons captain Rasheedat Ajibade has expressed disappointment with the Super Falcons early ouster from the 2024 Olympic Games.
The Super Falcons were eliminated from the women’s football event following a 3-1 defeat to Japan at the Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes on Wednesday.
Randy Waldrum’s side lost all three group games, scoring one goal and conceding five.
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Ajibade thanked the fans for their massive support despite the team’s failure to live up to expectations.
“It was a disappointing outcome in the end for the team after three tough tests against some of the best football teams in the world,” the Atletico Madrid winger wrote on X.
“We thank you for your endless love and support. We appreciate every one of you.
In all, we give thanks to God.”
By Adeboye Amosu
8 Comments
With better finishing, the outcome could have been different. But na so we see am.
Anyway, eereewareereee! (It is what it is).
Unu weh done.
Pompei, I think another big factor most forumites are glossing over (and it’s not necessarily a footballing factor) is who’s the leader in that SF team? Who’s the de-facto coach on the field of play? Who commands respect and players defer to for on-field instructions?
This was also a major factor in the Super Eagles’ last two WCQ matches. In the absence of Ekong, there was no leader. The stand-in captain, Ndidi, was as anonymous as any player on the field.
I’ve always liked defenders as captain, especially an old and passionate teammate, like Stephen Keshi, who was influential both on and off the field. This was largely responsible for the success of the 94 squad. Then, when Keshi left, the team had no real leader at France 98, and Amokachi and Ikpeba won’t pass to each other, for example as a fallout of that lacuna.
Enyeama was another good leader. Mikel had presence too, and so was Musa to an extent. Ekong is the current leader, and a good one at that. And we missed him, Simon, and Osimhen in those 2 last matches. The results could have been different.
Ajibade is talented and cool-headed, but does she have leadership skills? How many times did she bark instructions to teammates? I also noticed that after all the penetrations she made in the first game with no one to convert them, she got frustrated and started trying to score herself.
I won’t recommend Nnadozie either. She barks instructions, too. But I see too much respect for her teammates in her eyes. Ajibade too doesn’t want to offend anyone. If you’re not connecting with her passes, she just does her own thing out of frustration.
Desire Oparanozie looked the part but she lost form before retiring. Agba baller doesn’t seem to care about the captain’s arm band or leadership. It appears she just wants to have fun with her teammates on TikTok and YouTube shots and not appear too serious.
But I think Payne snr and Echiegini appear like the on-field leader types though.
Have you noticed that unlike Ekong (or even Enyeama then), there were no team huddles after the first half of the Falcon’s matches? That’s how you know a leader. He/she would have made observations during the first half and he/she calls the team together for a huddle and quick reviews/corrections before going to the dressing room to meet with the coach. In the dressing room, the leader would additionally point out certain things the coach may not have observed on field and create an environment where no one is afraid to share their ideas.
Onome Ebi provided leadership for the SF, but well she’s old. But there was no natural progression. A lot needs to be done going forward, including players to let go and new players to inject. But the captain’s band is a critical factor. If Ajibade is retained, she needs to be coached on her responsibilities, and a deputy needs (Payne or Echiegini) to be appointed asap.
Funny enough, in my post match observations, I bemoaned Ohale’s inability to provide leadership qualities. Though not the captain, I had expected her to gesticulate with calmness and authority on the pitch due to the seniority her length of service naturally bestows.
Payne and Echegini to me have to reinvent and redefine their roles on the pitch first before being considered for any communicative non-playing roles.
Please don’t mention Alozie. She can only be a captain on social media. She ha not even improved as a fullback let alone leading the team. She was piss-poor at times in this tournament.
I would recommend someone like Nnadozie, Ucheibe. Although very young, another candidate is Tosin Demehin.
“Please don’t mention Alozie. She can only be a captain on social media.”
Hahahahaha, very true @deo. The beautiful face of the team.
Alozie was average in her defensive roles but anytime she bombed forward (especially in the last game as the match drew to a close and desperation crept in), it was with a real intent. Maybe she’s more suited to RWB or AM duties as she does at Houston Dash.
On the other flank, Payne jnr was also doing a great job going forward, despite her small frame – unlike the static Okeke who was misplacing passes and losing her man/woman.
As for Ohale, she was simply a shadow of the tough and decisive player she was at the WC, where she often joined the attack when we had a corner kick. Not taking away credit for her solidity in her primary role of defending the post, but she was solitary, tentative, and indecisive when trying to build up an attack from the back.
Maybe she missed the synergy with Plumptre and Ayinde, who probably Ohale passes to when building from the back.
Even if Waldrum is retained, he needs help or the assistant needs to be changed and given more voice in making both footballing and non-footballing decisions.
Kel…..wow, wow, wow!….Very incisive piece….Thank you Bro….
Great observation, Kel.
The one person I think has that leadership quality is Plumptre.
When she’s on the pitch, I often see her rallying the troops. You would almost mistake her for the team captain.
I don’t see her as a long term solution though. With recent injuries and NFF shenanigans, she might be considering international retirement. But if she’s still available, I think she could lead the team.
I still remember Osinachi Ohale’s deus-ex-machina moment against Spain when she produced a most unlikely goal-mouth clearance from thin air with Nnadozie beaten hands down.
Then, I was sure the team would at least grind a draw from that match and then overcome Japan in the next match.
It was never to be.
For a team that pride itself on defensive discipline, conceding 5 goals across 3 Olympic games was truly disappointing.
It was a truly forgettable tournament.
Talking about the SE, who functions as the leader on the pitch?
For me, the answer boils down to 3 individuals. Ekong, Osimhen and Nwabali.
Nwabali, although relatively new, has shown that he possesses leadership qualities. He organizes his defense well and he’ll get right in your face if you’re not pulling your weight. Ask Iwobi.
But he’s the new kid on the block. So I would not pick him as captain at this time.
If it was up to me, Ekong or Osimhen would be my choice for team captain.
Osimhen in particular could be a long term option for the captain role.