African champions, the Super Falcons of Nigeria lost 4-1 to Austria in their opening game at the Cyprus Invitational Tournament on Wednesday at the AEK Arena, Larnaca, reports Completesports.com.
Thomas Dennerby’s ladies played virtually the entire game with a woman down after goalkeeper Tochukwu Oluehi was sent off in the fifth minute for handling the ball outside the area.
The West Africans stood firm against their opponent in the first half but conceded four times after the break.
Tor Nina Burger broke the deadlock three minutes after the break as the Europeans finally make their numerical advantage count.
The Austrians pilled more pressure on the Falcons and doubled their lead through Nicole Billa a minute before the hour mark.
Barcelona Ladies of Spain star Asisat Oshoala reduced the deficit for Nigeria firing home Anan Imo pass in the 65th minute.
Laura Feiersinge restored Austria’s two-goal lead when she scored off a fine corner kick from Elisabeth Mayr in the 72nd minute.
Jennifer Klein extended Dominik Thalhammer’s side lead eight minutes from time when she scored her first international goal through an assist from Elisabeth Mayr.
In the group’s other fixture, Belgium defeated Slovakia 3-0 in a one sided game.
The Super Falcons will face Slovakia in their next game in the competition on Friday.
By Adeboye Amosu
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COMMENTS
They will shape up by the time the WC come proper. Don’t judge them on this one friendly game. I trust these girls. More of such matches should be organized for the girls.
Super Falcons played virtually the entire match with ten players having had the keeper sent off. They held Austria at bay for 40 minutes before capitulating
And what time will they get better ??? What are we celebrating??? Losing with this bad coach is it new??? Losing or holding Austria for 90mins in women football is it an achievement for the super falcons of Kikelomo Ajayi or today’s falcons????Naija wake things are not right?
And if we beat Slovakia with low ranking we will celebrate Abi???
Our girls really tried, the coach is superb, let’s stop judging them from just one game, precise competition is just getting started. Up Naija.
Them don start again. Let’s see.
OK
This 4:1 defeat the Super Falcons suffered in the hands Austria,who are currently ranked 23 in Fifa rankings, will only serve to suggest that a lot of work needs to be done if the Nigerian ladies expect to have a credible outing at the World Cup come June.
The Super Falcons have now conceded 8 goals from their last three matches having scored 5 against these opponents who are China, Romania and now Austria, giving the Super Falcons a goals-for/goals-against ratio of: 0.62.
Contrast this to their world cup group opponents Norway who have scored 5 goals and conceded 3 from their last three matches to give them a healthy goals difference ratio of :1.66.
Nigeria will face Norway on June 8th.
The Super Falcons’ goals difference ratio means they are conceding more goals than they are scoring and this is not the hallmark of a team expected to do well at the World Cup against far superior oppositions.
At the Africa Cup of Nations (for women) in 2018, the Super Falcons scored 10 goals and conceded 1 in open play however, they should not expect to face defences in the mold of Zambia and Equatorial Guinea at the World Cup!
The news that somehow the NFF had arranged these pre-world Cup warm up games for the Super Falcons was greeted with approval and widely applauded by fans.
If what we are now seeing is a team using these games to prepare for the tasks ahead, then the games are at least, serving their purpose.
However, with tough challenges ahead, the Super Falcons have to work on scoring more goals whilst conceded less at the other end with a fluid and effective brand of football.
Dennerby’s ladies will hope to bounce back from this 4:1 defeat and qualify from the group when they take on Slovakia in their second game scheduled for this Friday, March 1.
We will be here by God’s grace.
It’s not bad to test your abilities in friendlies on different situations as this.
Having one down and seeking avenues to contain your opponent on advantage is something that may come handy in the long run.
Unfortunately,the falcons conceded plenty of goals in that situation against a team not regarded as super powers in women football.
Though somewhat disappointed for me but still a learning process for a team under a new European manager with a weird system which probably the girls are trying too hard to deal with but hopefully will adapt to before the commencement of the mundial.
However,I am expecting much better performances in their subsequent games to make up for this scandalous lose to a side not powerful enough in my opinion to inflict that level of defeat to the african champions even with a numerical advantage.
God bless Nigeria!