African champions Nigeria say they have put behind them the loss to
Jamaica and are determined to earn victory against Portugal on Sunday,
in the second of their three-match programme in the Summer Series in
the United States of America.
Super Falcons, ranked 38th in the latest FIFA rankings suffered a 1-0 defeat to 51st ranked Jamaica.
They will play 29th ranked Portugal in their second game at the Summer Series.
Missing several key players who were held back by either delayed
issuance of entry visa or injuries, the Super Falcons lost 0-1 to the
Jamaicans on Thursday at the BBVA Stadium in Houston – the same venue
where they confront the Portuguese on Sunday evening.
Deneisha Blackwood, who plays her professional club game for Houston
Dash (the club that uses the BBVA ground), scored in the 54th minute
to condemn the Super Falcons to their first defeat in eight games. The
nine-time African champions had won all three matches at the Turkish
Women’s Cup Tournament in Antalya in February – the first account
under American coach Randy Waldrum.
After the clash with the Jamaicans, Bayelsa Queens’ midfielder Celine
Ottah (one of 10 home-based professionals in the Falcons’ squad),Houston. Camp sources have confirmed to thenff.com that Belarus –based
experienced defender Onome Ebi and team captain Asisat Oshoala will
hit the team’s camp before the clash with Portugal on Sunday, having
flown out of their bases in Europe on Saturday.
In addition to four-time African Player of the Year Oshoala and
oak-at-the-rear Ebi, Coach Waldrum had to do without the young, agile
and stout-hearted goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie (who is still stuck in
France) midfield orchestrators Ngozi Okobi-Okeoghene and Halimatu
Ayinde. Former youth international Nnadozie has been the team’s number
one since the last FIFA World Cup finals in France.
The game against the Portuguese is also being seen in the larger
context of a preparatory session for the Falcons’ last match in the
Summer Series – a clash with four-time world champions and four-time
Olympic champions USA at the Q2 Stadium in Austin, also in the State
of Texas.
Team USA has beaten the Super Falcons in every encounter at the FIFA
World Cup and the Olympics. But Wednesday’s tie will be the first
friendly match involving both teams. In fact, the Americans have only
ever played friendly matches against only one African team previously
– South Africa’s Banyana Banyana.
SUPER FALCONS IN HOUSTON: Tochukwu Oluehi, Inyene Etim, Glory Ogbonna,
Ibe Abidemi, Oluwatosin Demehin, Vivian Ikechukwu, Akudo Ogbonna,
Esther Okoronkwo, Gift Monday, Yewande Balogun, Joy Bokiri, Francisca
Ordega, Rasheedat Ajibade, Amanda Mbadi, Toni Oyedupe Payne, Chidinma
Okeke, Celine Ottah, Charity Adule, Rita Chikwelu, Michelle Alozi,
Onyinyechi Zogg, Nicole Payne, Ifeoma Onomonwu, Rossa Ariyo
34 Comments
Watch live:
Nigeria vs Portugal
https://www.thenff.com/nff-live-tv/
The match is on now. You can watch the match on YouTube here “El Salvador EN Houston”. Good luck Super Falcons. God bless Nigeria!!!
Now let me analyze the match.
Bravo…Bravo….Bravo…. I’m proud of you Super Falcons. What Super Eagle failed to do with our world class coach over the five years, coach Waldrum is doing it less than six months.
I have said it last week that don’t expect too much from this team because it is a new team that doesn’t play together before.
Alimotu, Sunday Monday, Sendu, Oparanozie and other top players were not part of this team still they managed a draw against a discipline and organized team.
Asisat and Ebi were substituted in this match, our new Falcons didn’t give up and in the end, the match ended 3-3.
Now, who can we blame for not doing their job well for this tournament between NFF and the Coach?
For me, I will put the blame on NFF.
Why late preparations?
It shows that Falcons were disjointed and not that impressive in this tournament.
It’s normal because this team is less than 10 days old.
All that needed in this team is time.
The team needed to stay together for a while.
I can not wait to see the best of this our Super Eagles against Ghana.
I hope Oga Rohr followers are watching?
I am sorry for you all people including NFF and our world class coach himself, Oga Rohr because you people are destroying our football.
Did you people see the never say die Nigerian spirit and the way our young and new Super Falcons team ended the match?
Compared that performance to our Super Eagles against Cameroon in both matches Eagles have played?
Mr. Waldrum is the man. You have my full support as long as I am seeing positive results in your matches.
Let see what the Falcons can do against the USA team on Thursday.
Up Super Falcons. We are proud of you ladies. Ire o. God bless Nigeria!!!
Lolzzzz. The Super Falcons played Kerewa Kerewa Kerewa football o…
Hahahahaha…this team is 10 days old…LMAO….another wonderful excuse.
The one that went to win the kangaroo trophy you claimed they won against CSKA Moscow women and Uzbekistan where your grand mothers in the village ‘ke’…?
24 mins
Nig 0-1 Portugal
The Portuguese are so far seeing less of the ball, however, they are more intelligent on the ball whenever they have it. Their ball sense is really evident compared to our girls’.
30 min.
What a huge let off…!!!!!!!
The referee wrongfully rules out what should have been a 2nd goal for Portugal…..We breathe again.
Nigeria 0-1 Portugal
The defence is terrible…very porous.
34 mins.
Nigeria 0-2 Portugal
Costa is left unmarked at the back post off a free kick and she wastes no time in volleying the ball past a stranded Tochukwu Oluehi.
The Portuguese are showing technical and tactical superiority over the super falcons so far.
The Portuguese ladies may not be as individually talented as our players, but technically, they are miles ahead. They have football sense and intelligence.
42 mins
Another let off…!
Portugal hit the side netting after Oluehi was rounded and beaten.
The Portuguese now bossing possession and controlling the tempo
45 mins
Nigeria 1-2 Portugal
Alozie fortutiously pulls 1 back.
Corner kick blocked, rebound hit into the 6yard box and Alozie on hand to jab in with aplomb.
And it’s halftime in Houston.
Nigeria 1-2 Portugal.
Portugal has clearly been the better team. They have looked more intelligent on the ball and always seem to have a trick on their sleeves when advancing towards our defence.
The falcons on the other hand have been quite predictable, always trying to work the ball to the flanks and looking for the cut back into the penalty area. Let’s hope they come back strong and better in the 2nd half.
An interesting match by every inch for any neutral viewer.
Key halftime stats.
Nig – Por
Possession 40% – 60%
Shots 7 – 7
On Target 3 – 4
Goals 1 – 2
Clearances 3 – 0
The 2nd half is underway.
24 yr old Salome Zogg on for Ogbonna
Esther Okoronkwo on for Ify Onumonu
53 mins
Nigeria 1-3 Portugal
Thelma extends the Portuguese’s lead.
A give away in the centre by Zogg….Thelma is teed up through on goal….and she beautifully and intelligently lobs onrushing oluehi
56 mins
Nigeria 2-3 Portugal.
After a last ditch tackle by okeke to deny Portugal a 4th goal, Nigeria advances down the wings and sees Ajibade put a low cross into the box for Oshoala to tap in
59 mins
MISSSSSS……!!!
Thelma blasts wide from point blank range with the goal at her mercy.
Huge let off for the falcons once again.
Nigeria 2-3 Portugal
60 mins.
The Portuguese ring about 4 changes at a go.
Will this disturb or enhance their rhythm, time will tell.
Meanwhile Payne comes on for Onome Ebi for Nigeria too.
63 mins
SAVEEEE…..!!!
OLUEHI saves from point blank range after a couple of our defenders have been left for dead with twists, turns and nutmegs
It’s 65 mins on the clock so far. Portugal bossing proceedings and creating the better chances.
The falcons always looking lost and clueless whenever they have the ball and always looking to the wings as their only attacking outlet.
Does this team i am watching have a coach at all. They cannot seem to do any basic thing right
They do. Infact a trophy winning coach sef. Lol.
He won a kangaroo 4 nation tournament comprising Uzbekistan, CSKA Moscow ladies formed 2 years ago and Equitorial Guinea without their United Nations mercenaries…. LMAO.
Ngwa come and play real teams na…agbada don hook for barb wire.
70 min
Oshoala is injured and subbed off for 23yr old ikechukwu
80 mins.
Nigeria 2-3 Portugal
The tempo of the game has slowed down a little. Over 10 subs from both sides has also distorted the rhythm substantially.
88 mins.
Silva puts the ball into the net for Portugal, but she is correctly ruled offside.
Good call by the assistant referee.
Another let off for the falcons
95 mins
Goaaaaaaalllllll….!!!
Equalizeeeeerrrrrr
Rasheedat Ajibade equalizes deep into stoppage time.
Portuguese defender silly dallies on the edge of the box….gets caught in possession….Toni Payne drives into the box with 3 Nigerian girls in the 6yrd box waiting for the cross.
Ajibade arrives at the end of the cross to stab in with virtually the last kick of the game.
Glad the girls managed to draw that game. I honestly don’t like how the coach used Ebi and Oshoala. Those two shouldn’t have started this game. Heard Oshoala arrived just in the morning ( US time), while Ebi arrived yesterday night. He could have subbed them into the game instead of starting them and getting them injured on the hour mark. It was a terrible decision from him. This is not a major tournament ahba.
Omo9ja…please don’t come here and hypocritically hail that coach just to get back at GR. Make we no fight o. Coz he didn’t draw that game….the girls did.
Its shocking to me too my brother. How can you start players who arrived less than 24 hrs ago after a trans Atlantic flight…? Who does that…?? When its not a do or die game..?!
Leave those cynical ones that want to make baseless comparisons biko…LMAO. Let them continue to praise nonsense while our falcons are getting worse by the day.
Im not bothered about the scoreline really, but the fact that Jamaica and Portugal are teaching our Super Falcons how to play football is paining me. Our female football isnt developing at all. Even the last AFCON we won we only won 2 matches in the tournament. We lost to SA, drew Cameroon in the semis and drew SA again in the final. Olympics qualifiers we didnt even get to the final stage of the qualifiers. We couldnt defeat CIV over 2 legs. Now we are to face Ghana again in a winner takes all AWCON/WC qualifier…fear dey grip me o.
If we cant beat CIV, Cameroon, South Africa, Jamaica, Portugal for female football abeg who we wan dey beat…?? Uzbekistan…???
Our female football is dying….really. I still cant forget we beat England 3-0 in London in 2004, dem no born us well make we go face same England today…..they will feed us with Wembley stadium grass.
just tell me if Oparanozie could have been in this match that she couldnt have scored many goals. See that girl Jessica was dribbling naija girls easily, man our super falcons is finished. Naija so lucky today ,if not many goal chances misses from the Portuguise dont know
And the final whistle goes in the BBVA stadium in Houston.
Nigeria 3-3 Portugal.
What a game…!
Portugal are left rueing numerous opportunities to bury the super falcons.
Nigeria on the other hand will savor the joy of snatching an unlikely result from a very fluid and intelligent Portuguese side.
The SF sure have much to do in terms of their general organization and tactical approach to games as the all important AWCON/WC qualifier against Ghana draws near.
But before then…. almighty USA awaits on Wednesday.
It’s been an interesting game of football. From here it’s good day folks
@Okponku… my brother take heart…na so we see am. Let those who are good at cooking up innuendos better start doing so. But what is clear is that the coach has a lot of work to do.
Personally not bothered about the result. What I’m bothered about I the fact that our girls’ dont have ball sense and seem not to know what next to do with the ball when they have it…and that is worrysome.
The difference between them and the Portuguese was just the football sense they lack.
The earliest we stopped decieving ourselves that “We have TALENTS scattered all over the world” (both male and female) the better for us.
What we have in most instances is quantity and not quality. What we have are more of average and mediocre players.
Truly world class Nigerian footballers (male and female) available globally can be counted by just the fingers of 1 hand.
Enough of the self deceit.
There are two ways quality are acquire.
Quality is either Innate( in born) or forged(built). No matter which, both must be unlocked and harness to become quality.
Correctly, in Nigeria, we do have talents but like everything else; they are locked in and never built on
We lack basic facilities to work on these talents.
We lack quality personnel to coach and harness these talents.
There is lack of motivation and inspiration from these talents to improve.
More importantly, those in charge simply don’t care. They lack the will,wisdom and dignity to scout and build these talents.
So we keep chunning out average and mediocre players. Half baked talent that wasn’t really cooked.
All we got is passion and determination.
our passion for the game and our determination to survive.
That’s simply not enough.
Training, purpose and work is needed for growth. There is no purpose. We haven’t put in the work. We simply don’t train. Hence our retrogession.