Completesports.com‘s ADEBOYE AMOSU rates the performance of Super Falcons players in their 2024 Olympic Games women’s football event final group game against Japan at the Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes on Wednesday night…
CHIAMAKA NNADOZIE 7/10
The Paris FC goalkeeper made a number vital saves to make the scoreline respectable for her side.
MICHELLE ALOZIE 6/10
Put up an average performance in the game. Showed her versatility by playing as a winger in the second half.
OSINACHI OHALE 6/10
The experienced centre-back made a vital club on 16 minutes. She was substituted late in the game.
TOSIN DEMEHIN 6/10
Conceded a couple of clumsy fouls in the first half. She improved after the break.
CHIDINMA OKEKE 4/10
She was the weakest link in the team’s defence. Nicole Payne took her place after the break.
DEBORAH ABIODUN 6/10
Another good display from the defensive midfielder. She is definitely one for the future.
CHRISTY UCHEIBE 5/10
The Benfica midfielder didn’t affect the game much. Featured for the entire duration of the game.
JENNIFER ECHEGINI 7/10
The PSG new signing scored Nigeria’s only goal of the game and also tested the Japanese goalkeeper in the second half.
TONI PAYNE 6/10
The winger worked hard in the game. A good performance from the Everton player.
RASHEEDAT AJIBADE 5/10
Not a good performance from the Atletico Madrid winger. She made little impression in the game.
ASISAT OSHOALA 5/10
A disappointing display from Africa’s women’s best player. She was replaced by Chiwendu Ihezuo around the hour mark.
SUBSTITUTES
NICOLE PAYNE 6/10
The full-back put up an impressive display after replacing Chidinma Okeke in the second half.
CHIWENDU IHEZUO 4/10
The forward didn’t affect the game much following her introduction.
ESTHER OKORONKWO 3/10
Took the place of Deborah Abiodun 15 minutes from time. She didn’t affect the game much following her introduction.
UCHENNA KANU
Not Rated
2 Comments
I didn’t have opportunity to watch the match yesterday due to several mid week commitments including evening service preparations. But final stats on live score showed we controlled ball possession against Japan! Japan that I know with their ball juggling skills. Maybe with more friendlies (which I know glasshouse WILL NOT PUT TOGETHER) meanwhile England already know the identity of their remaining opponents for the rest of 2024, we can learn to sharpen our attack for WAFCON 2025.
Will NFF slate friendlies for Falcons? Your guess is as good as mine. Playing strong top 10 nations would have been scary a few years ago but 2023 WWC performance changed the dynamics and perception of super falcons in our eyes.
Sly salutes you ladies. If only you can be treated “equally” like Eagles in matches pairing, my heart would be glad.
Player Ratings
The Super Falcons, in truth, put up a tepid display in the earlier part of the first half against Japan yesterday. By the time they upped their game, the mountain was way too high for them to climb. They actually looked deflated to me.
Hamano stole behind Okeke to stab hon in 22 minutes before Tanaka scrambled to make 2:0 ten minutes later for Japan after being better positioned and reacting quicker than Demehin inside Nigeria’s 18 yard box.
After the second goal, the Super Falcons then remembered where they were and why they were there for Echegini to connected beautifully with a pitch-perfect pass from Ucheibe to let fly for 2:1 in 4:1 minutes. However Kitagawa put the nail in the coffin with a fabulous freekick from range to end the game 3:1 and end Nigeria’s faint hopes of getting anything out of the match.
My Ratings:
1) Nnadozie: When she was afforded competent protection from her outfield colleagues, she produced decent saves and she was always well positioned. All the goals against her were were worked with non of her defensive colleagues jumping for the free-kick of the last goal.
I found her performance acceptable even though I can she could improve her distribution at times. 5/10
2) Ohale: She produced a number of misplaced passes and she was in thick of the second goal conceded haven been beaten aerially in the build up. She tried to instigate attacking initiatives with passes that ultimately led nowhere.
I culpability for the second goal shocked me. I thought her overall display was underwhelming on the night. 4.5/10
3) Demehin: Her penchant for needless passes reared its head for her foul for the final Japan goal. She was involved in the scrum for the second goal. Some of her long balls failed to reach intended targets. She did perform well in some of her defensive duties.
I don’t think she jumped in the wall for the 3rd goal. Her performance to me was slightly subpar.
4) Okeke: She lost the striker for Japan’s first goal and the cross for the second goal came from her side. She did misplace some passes too. That said, the performed well in some tackles and interceptions.
I was unimpressed when she let the scorer stole behind her for the goal. It was a performance that slightly harmed her left back credential. She was hurled off in the second half. 4/10
5) Alozie: She combined well with Ucheibe and Payne to produce a neat passing interplay. Her throw-ins were at times wayward whilst some passes were misplaced. She was beating in 1v1s before the Japanese winger deliver crosses at least twice and the opening goal was due her losing the striker. She was busy up front with decent runs and crosses which were often blocked.
I was not best pleased seeing her being dribbled and crosses delivered from her area. I found her attacking forays less effective than her social media dance routine montages. 4/10
6) Ucheibe: She wasn’t able to help Nigeria stem the tide of Japanese attacks from the midfield. Apart from the eloquent give-and-go with Echegini for Nigeria’s only goal, her other passes weren’t entirely imaginative. She even struggled to shake off Japanese players when they swarm her.
It wasn’t a dominant midfield display from Ucheibe but her assist for the goal did raise my spirit. 5/10
7) Abiodun: She was again busy with tackling and interceptions that worked for most parts. I noticed 2 misplaced passes from her. In fact, when Nigeria needed goals to get back into the game, Abiodun wasn’t able to help press this issue.
I will always applaud Abiodun for her defensive application but I found her contributions negligible in helping to carve out scoring chances even from deep midfield. 5/10
8) Payne: She was lively somewhat in her movements. She was instrumental in winning the ball for the sequence of Nigeria’s goal. She supported the defense when required. And she tried to combine well with others in passing passages. She also tried to launch some neat shots.
I found Payne fluid and lively on the night but it wasn’t enough for the team to drive success. 5/10
9) Oshoala: She looked quite marginalized and well marked and well curtailed. She wasn’t able to connect with passes and she wasn’t able to use her profile to rouse the team from its slumber earlier on.
I didn’t see enough of Oshoala to be invested in what she was trying to do. 4.5/10
10) Ajibade: Her crosses were often blocked and her dribbles were often unsuccessful. She wasn’t able to get into promising positions and she struggled overall to outfox and outmanuovre her markers.
I think Ajibade wasn’t able to sync her movements with the requirements of the formation on the night. It was a laboured display and quite cumbersome to watch. 4.5/10
11) Echegini: Apart from her goal, I think she struggled to really impose herself on the midfield. The technique applied to her shot was utter brilliance (I wishe Iheuzo and Ajibade had applied similar compelling technique in the prior 2 games).
I thank Echegini for the goal but she still looks wafer thin lightweight in midfield for Nigeria. Perhaps we deploy her as a support striker. 5/10
SUBSTITUTES
NICOLE PAYNE: She combined well with her colleagues to produce neat passing exchanges. She looked fluid and always willing to latch on to passes. 5/10
CHIWENDU IHEZUO: She was full of movement, always trying to find an opportunity to pounce but the opportunities never presented themselves as glorious as the ones she had against Spain and Brazil. 4/10
ESTHER OKORONKWO: She huffed and puffed but the game was already lost at that time. 4/10
UCHENNA KANU: Her impact was negligible. Not Rated