Five minutes made a devastating difference in Nigeria’s 1-0 loss to Spain in their second match at the Paris Olympics, making it back-to-back defeat for the Super Falcons after losing to Brazil in their opening match.
The Super Falcons made a few changes to their last starting lineup against Brazil with Asisat Oshoala who made her first appearance at this Olympics and Esther Okoronkwo replacing Onyi Echegini and Chinwendu Ihezuo respectively.
Nigeria only needed to hold on for five more minutes to come away with a point, or even three, from their encounter with world champions Spain.
But poor finishing, and one moment of switch-off at the back saw them condemned to a second straight defeat at the Olympic Games — and contemplating the prospect of a third early exit in four Games.
Goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie was heroine and villain. She made a superb save from point blank range, only to allow Alexia Putella’s freekick to sail in over her from bad positioning.
After the 1-0 loss to Brazil, Randy Waldrum made two changes to his starting lineup for the clash against the world’s top-ranked team. Star forward Asisat Oshoala, who did not see action against Brazil, was restored to the lineup along with Esther Okoronkwo.
Still, the shine was on Deborah Abiodun, captain Rasheedat Ajibade and, as usual, Nnadozie for the most part, until her late error.
Waldrum honed in on two key elements for his players going into this tournament — taking their chances when they get them and staying switched on for the full 90 minutes.
“We are playing the world champions, Brazil and Japan,” he told ESPN before the tournament. “All three teams very good with ball possession and their attacking movements.
“We’re going to have to be very disciplined defensively and a lot of our play is going to have to come from counter attacking because we haven’t had the time together that those teams have to really develop a game model to where we’re really confident in keeping the ball against them.”
To make it work, Waldrum said his players would have to be efficient with their few opportunities.
“We’ve got to really hone in on that and work a little bit more on our counter, be a little bit more clinical and efficient around the goal. I understand that a lot of people have been saying we’re missing chances, we need goal scorers and things and I get it. But you know at least if you can keep a clean sheet you’re going to always have a chance,” he added.
To be fair, the team have been pretty good in keeping the opposition at bay. Letting in just one goal each against Brazil and Spain is progress, especially the organized way they did it.
Their failing has been on the efficiency front.
Just like against Brazil, they created multiple chances on the break to tie, and even win the game.
Ajibade was played through on goal by the returning Oshoala but lost her nerve, took a heavy touch and stumbled at a critical moment.
Chinwendu Ihezuo, who subbed in for Oshoala, had her own chance in the 90th minute, coming one on one with the goalkeeper and hitting the ball straight at Cata Coll. There were also opportunities for Okoronkwo and Oshoala, but none were converted.
“We had three to four good opportunities,” said Waldrum said after the game. “Regrettably, we did not convert them. We had one in the first half, a breakaway and Asisat and rash missed those chances. Regrettably, the Spanish converted theirs.”
Waldrum must be wondering what else he has to do to get his wards scoring goals.
There were many who were perplexed by Waldrum’s decision to leave Oshoala out of the starting lineup against Brazil — and not to give her any minutes in at all.
He answered by restoring her to the team, but precious little changed. The Bay FC forward did impact the game in one moment, when her visionary pass over the top found Ajibade in space and through on goal, but it was not to be.
Oshoala herself got into a good position later in the half, but could not find a finish. In the second half, her intelligent cutback found Ajibade again, who blazed inches over from just inside the box. She was eventually hooked for Ihezuo, as Waldrum ended up throwing on the full complement of his attacking stock on the field, with Ify Onumonu, Ihezuo and Uchenna Kanu all making their way into the game.
Big players show up when the going gets tough, The Super Falcons have a slim chance of advancing to the next round if they can get a win against Japan in their final group game. As the star player and team leader, Oshoala will have to pull the Falcons by the strap and carry them if needs be.
With Spain setting up a freekick on the left channel, she stepped off her line and completely misread the flight of the ball, allowing it sail over her and into the net.
“We lost to two of the best teams in the world,” concluded Waldrum. “Spain is the top team in the world and Brazil are in the top 10.
“We have shown that we could have got something out of those matches. It shows we can play against anybody in the world.”