NIGERIA FALCONS 0 VS 1 SPAIN OLYMPICS 2024 full time

[blueangel]

One of the problems for our Women's teams, whether intentional or not, they are always in a very tough / challenging group in FIFA tournaments.
They unfortunately do not have the opportunity to blend and grow as they progress through the tournament.

[TonyTheTigerKiller]

Spain could've had 100 chances and it would be expected, so that is an irrelevant point! They are the world champions.

The issue is being efficient with the chances you got.

A team that created the number and quality of chances we had, should be doing better...

If a team carved out 100 chances against your team, it’s “irrelevant”?!

Sadly the sort of Pretzel logic folks twist themselves into to maintain their WOWO subscription.

Its irrelevant because they did not take them.

The two Spanish papers Marca and Mundodeportivo described them as sterile...

What is relevant is how many chances you took.

Which is the overall point of my comment...

Let’s just say that providence smiled on us yesterday. We could have conceded more than a handful of goals. The fact that we didn’t wasn’t due to how well we played. As it stands now, we still have a chance of advancing if we beat Japan


Cheers.

[txj]

Spain could've had 100 chances and it would be expected, so that is an irrelevant point! They are the world champions.

The issue is being efficient with the chances you got.

A team that created the number and quality of chances we had, should be doing better...

If a team carved out 100 chances against your team, it’s “irrelevant”?!

Sadly the sort of Pretzel logic folks twist themselves into to maintain their WOWO subscription.

Its irrelevant because they did not take them.

The two Spanish papers Marca and Mundodeportivo described them as sterile...

What is relevant is how many chances you took.

Which is the overall point of my comment...

Let’s just say that providence smiled on us yesterday. We could have conceded more than a handful of goals. The fact that we didn’t wasn’t due to how well we played. As it stands now, we still have a chance of advancing if we beat Japan


Cheers.

It was testimony to how well we defended, even if we could've done better. Providence doesn't favor only one team...
There are things to criticize about the team, but that shouldn't stop us from recognizing what they did well...

[packerland]

Unfortunately we don't have those kind of players and it's sad because we are over 200M strong and nobody seems to know where to find them.

Abegi, all of our youth female teams dominate possession…
Players like Amanda Mbadi, even Peace Efih and Onyenezide (let’s leave out Suliat Abideen) play good possession football.

lol…those girls ain’t ready. Dominating possession as South Sudan and Ethiopia is not a true test.
Demehin was playing in our youth teams not too long ago. I like her, but fouling a player in a dangerous spot when she didn't have to is not the coach’s fault.

[Adisboy]

Unfortunately we don't have those kind of players and it's sad because we are over 200M strong and nobody seems to know where to find them.

Abegi, all of our youth female teams dominate possession…
Players like Amanda Mbadi, even Peace Efih and Onyenezide (let’s leave out Suliat Abideen) play good possession football.

So why are they not here?

This extreme exaggeration. Peace Efih was in the U20 team of 2018 that was played off the park by the Spain U20s in that year's U20 World Cup. Nnadozie & Ajibade were also in the team. But for Nnadozie it would have been a complete hiding in that game instead of the 2-0 loss. what you guys are forgetting is that we are playing against the best in the World not the average teams. We are not at Spain's level, so any expectation was just wishful thinking. Mbadi, Efih & Onyenezide are certainly not better that what we took to the Olympics and that's a fact.

[wiseone]

Exactly! Nigeria is in a group with the world champions and the 7th and 9th best teams in the world. At the World Cup they were in a group with the Olympic champions, European champions, and host nation. 6 of the last 7 matches that Nigeria played in international tournaments were against teams ranked in the world 10 (and Nigeria suffered only two 0-1 defeats in those 7 matches). When one considers the calibre of opposition, they have not done badly.

One of the problems for our Women's teams, whether intentional or not, they are always in a very tough / challenging group in FIFA tournaments.
They unfortunately do not have the opportunity to blend and grow as they progress through the tournament.

[wanaj0]

Nigeria has been having problems scoring goals.

Nigeria 3 Australia 2
Nigeria 0 England 0
Nigeria 1 Canada 1
Nigeria 1 South Africa 0
South Africa 0 Nigeria 0

It started at Afcon in Morocco. I had my concerns. You were saying the defensive record is good.

We are also not giving away goals. And that is the right strategy. We just need to find a way and the right players to be more effective in the 3rd half.

We should not find the RIGHT coach that will 'teach' the players how to put the ball in the net?

[Bell]

FALCONS DIDN'T CREATE OPPORTUNITIES...They didn't create opportunities because they addopted a defensive approach and because they've adopted the "modern football" approach based on playing out of the backfield instead of the more direct approach.

Meanwhile, the forwards were starved of passes while the ball was being played around with the keeper and backs. Then, often, they lost the ball in their own half, giving the Spaniards additional chances. The free kick off which Spain scored came from one such turnover. Same as the Brazil goal.

So there are two problems with this playing out of the backfield approach: (1) Forwards get fewer chances and (2) there are more turnovers in the backfield giving the opponents more scoring opportunities.

It's possible that playimg more direct football would have opened them up for more potent scoring opportunities for Spain but we'll never know. Another observation is that Spain was terribly inneficient given their time of possession and the number of shots they took.
Bell

[Gotti]

Unfortunately we don't have those kind of players and it's sad because we are over 200M strong and nobody seems to know where to find them.

Abegi, all of our youth female teams dominate possession…
Players like Amanda Mbadi, even Peace Efih and Onyenezide (let’s leave out Suliat Abideen) play good possession football.

So why are they not here?

Why ask me? Ask Coach Randy...

[txj]

FALCONS DIDN'T CREATE OPPORTUNITIES...They didn't create opportunities because they addopted a defensive approach and because they've adopted the "modern football" approach based on playing out of the backfield instead of the more direct approach.

Meanwhile, the forwards were starved of passes while the ball was being played around with the keeper and backs. Then, often, they lost the ball in their own half, giving the Spaniards additional chances. The free kick off which Spain scored came from one such turnover. Same as the Brazil goal.

So there are two problems with this playing out of the backfield approach: (1) Forwards get fewer chances and (2) there are more turnovers in the backfield giving the opponents more scoring opportunities.

It's possible that playimg more direct football would have opened them up for more potent scoring opportunities for Spain but we'll never know. Another observation is that Spain was terribly inneficient given their time of possession and the number of shots they took.
Bell

Playing more direct against a team like Spain is not a solution, which is why the better teams do not play that way. First it gives back possession to a team that dominates the ball anyways, so in effect you shoot yourself in the foot.

Playing out from the back is a risk/reward situation. The risk is the turnovers and the reward is the quality of chances you create. But you can manage the risk by improving your possession game and discipline in the non-possession phase.

The tactic was exactly right. Concede possession but find your moments to break out on the counter.

Yes Spain missed chances but it was also in part from the number of defensive players Nigeria had in a low block, which reduces the space and time on the ball in the final third.

Our problem is Nigerians are ignorant about the game and refuse to learn! Both fans, journos and the NFF..

As a team these Falcons are making progress. The results at the highest levels are not there, but you can see why if you know how to read a game.

We need to persist with what we are currently doing and build on it by investing more on the team.

Can we have mini camps in the US for instance to build on a game model?
Can we bring more youth players into the US collegiate system to expand our talent base?
Can we engage a fulltime assistant for Waldrum?

[Gotti]

This extreme exaggeration. Peace Efih was in the U20 team of 2018 that was played off the park by the Spain U20s in that year's U20 World Cup. Nnadozie & Ajibade were also in the team. But for Nnadozie it would have been a complete hiding in that game instead of the 2-0 loss. what you guys are forgetting is that we are playing against the best in the World not the average teams. We are not at Spain's level, so any expectation was just wishful thinking. Mbadi, Efih & Onyenezide are certainly not better that what we took to the Olympics and that's a fact.

Nnadozie and Ajibade were also "in the U20 team of 2018 that was played off the park by the Spain U20s in that year's U20 World Cup" SIX YEARS AGO (as even you yourself cannot help but illogically acknowledge), so going your tortured turn of logic, they both should be nowhere near the Super Falcons' squad. In fact, why stop there? Nnadozie and Ucheibe were in the U17 team that failed to qualify to qualify for the WC - the ONLY Nigerian female national team to EVER fail to qualify for a FIFA WC at any level - being eliminated by Cameroon (who are not even African champions), not even Spain (that ended up as that 2018 WC runners-up). What exactly are those two 'bums' (by your logic of course) doing in the Super Falcons' squad?!

As I sadly noted above, the sort of Pretzel logic that Cultists will twist themselves into to maintain their WOWO subscription can be simply mind-boggling. SMH

[Gotti]

MY OBSERVATIONS

(1) Spain had too many chances to cash in on only one goal. They were very good at passing, partly because the Falcons seemed to prefer to "give them the shot" rather than pressure them. I thought more highly of the Spaniards whom I'd picked to win it all.
(2) The Falcons limited their own opportunities by always trying to pass out of the backfield, eventually losing possession midway, instead of using, when appropriate, long passes.
(3) The one passing, and the one receiving the pass, need to work more to be on the same proverbial page and bring more coherence to the passing game.
(4) Ajibade is a real player and would be nice if they can find someone to play with her while she's in her prime.

All in all, theis match shows once again how far the Falcons have come. Before anyone forgets, Spain are the reigning WC champions and the match was in their backyard. Not too long ago, this matchup would have been a laugher.

Finally, the Falcons haven't been playing this "modern soccer" of playing out of the backfield. I hope the coach sees the futility of it and does what works rather than what "everybody is doing".
Bell

Exactly, just like our games against the other "reigning WC champions" the largely over-the-hill Cameroon and South Africa...

Meanwhile, last time we suffered a "laugher"-type defeat at a global competition was OVER TWENTY YEARS AGO (2003 WC)!!

[Gotti]

One of the problems for our Women's teams, whether intentional or not, they are always in a very tough / challenging group in FIFA tournaments.
They unfortunately do not have the opportunity to blend and grow as they progress through the tournament.

Olympics are almost always a tough draw because they're only 12 teams...
But I think fortunately we got a generous draw for this year's U17 WC (not so much for the U20 WC).

[Gotti]

So js Nigeria out?

What is the plan for the future?

Nope, not yet...
If we beat Japan (which I remain optimistic that we can/will), we can still sneak into the KO phase.

GOOD LUCK LADIES!

[Gotti]

Nigeria has been having problems scoring goals.

Nigeria 3 Australia 2
Nigeria 0 England 0
Nigeria 1 Canada 1
Nigeria 1 South Africa 0
South Africa 0 Nigeria 0

It started at Afcon in Morocco. I had my concerns. You were saying the defensive record is good.

Canada game (WC) was 0-0.

Here are the Randy stats since the WC...

vs Canada 0-0
vs Australia 3-2
vs Ireland 0-0
vs England 0-0 (L on PKs)
vs Cameroon 0-0
vs Cameroon 1-0
vs South Africa 1-0 (PK)
vs South Africa 0-0
vs Canada (friendly) 0-1
vs Brazil 0-1
vs Spain 0-1

That's 8 of 11 games we've failed to score (and 9 out of 11 in open play)...
Hopefully, with little or nothing to lose vs Japan, the coaches will tweak their "prevent attack" tactics! GOOD LUCK LADIES!!

[akamoke]

Exactly! Nigeria is in a group with the world champions and the 7th and 9th best teams in the world. At the World Cup they were in a group with the Olympic champions, European champions, and host nation. 6 of the last 7 matches that Nigeria played in international tournaments were against teams ranked in the world 10 (and Nigeria suffered only two 0-1 defeats in those 7 matches). When one considers the calibre of opposition, they have not done badly.

One of the problems for our Women's teams, whether intentional or not, they are always in a very tough / challenging group in FIFA tournaments.
They unfortunately do not have the opportunity to blend and grow as they progress through the tournament.

I see this as challenge not a deterrent or reason for failure, if we want to be the best, we have to play the best and if we were able to get out of the World cup group, we sure as hell could have aimed to get out of this group Olympic group as well

[akamoke]

Nigeria has been having problems scoring goals.

Nigeria 3 Australia 2
Nigeria 0 England 0
Nigeria 1 Canada 1
Nigeria 1 South Africa 0
South Africa 0 Nigeria 0

It started at Afcon in Morocco. I had my concerns. You were saying the defensive record is good.

We are also not giving away goals. And that is the right strategy. We just need to find a way and the right players to be more effective in the 3rd half.

We should not find the RIGHT coach that will 'teach' the players how to put the ball in the net?

In Lolly's defense, its not the coach's perogative to "teach" players to put the ball in the net, this is the national team, it is however the coach's perogative to "find" players who can put the ball in the net while orchestrating strategy

[txj]

Nigeria has been having problems scoring goals.

Nigeria 3 Australia 2
Nigeria 0 England 0
Nigeria 1 Canada 1
Nigeria 1 South Africa 0
South Africa 0 Nigeria 0

It started at Afcon in Morocco. I had my concerns. You were saying the defensive record is good.

Canada game (WC) was 0-0.

Here are the Randy stats since the WC...

vs Canada 0-0
vs Australia 3-2
vs Ireland 0-0
vs England 0-0 (L on PKs)
vs Cameroon 0-0
vs Cameroon 1-0
vs South Africa 1-0 (PK)
vs South Africa 0-0
vs Canada (friendly) 0-1
vs Brazil 0-1
vs Spain 0-1

That's 8 of 11 games we've failed to score (and 9 out of 11 in open play)...
Hopefully, with little or nothing to lose vs Japan, the coaches will tweak their "prevent attack" tactics! GOOD LUCK LADIES!!

One leg good, two legs better. Said the sheep...

This is the kind of pedestrian analysis that you often see with Nigerians fronting to be knowledgeable about football.

What were the results pre Randy. MORE IMPORTANTLY, what was the strength of the opposition back then vs now?

True, the results are not good in this tournament. But there is clear evidence of continued progress and positives that can be built on if we get our acts together...

But this is precisely the kind of third rate analysis that leads Nigerian officials astray...

Well do HEG

[Gotti]

One leg good, two legs better. Said the sheep...

This is the kind of pedestrian analysis that you often see with Nigerians fronting to be knowledgeable about football.

What were the results pre Randy. MORE IMPORTANTLY, what was the strength of the opposition back then vs now?

True, the results are not good in this tournament. But there is clear evidence of continued progress and positives that can be built on if we get our acts together...

But this is precisely the kind of third rate analysis that leads Nigerian officials astray...

Well do HEG

You should know by now that I am no longer inclined to dignify your CHILDISH insults...
It's just a shame that a grown man raising kids is still behaving like a toddler on a public forum.

[Gotti]

One leg good, two legs better. Said the sheep...

This is the kind of pedestrian analysis that you often see with Nigerians fronting to be knowledgeable about football.

What were the results pre Randy. MORE IMPORTANTLY, what was the strength of the opposition back then vs now?

True, the results are not good in this tournament. But there is clear evidence of continued progress and positives that can be built on if we get our acts together...

But this is precisely the kind of third rate analysis that leads Nigerian officials astray...

Well do HEG

Even the much-maligned "Lesbian Hunter" Eucharia Uche got similar (if not better) results at the WC...
Losing narrowly to TWO-TIMES DEFENDING WORLD CHAMPIONS and HOST Germany 0-1 and France 0-1, and beating Canada 1-0.

Unlike the dishonest narrative often spun on these pages...
The Super Falcons have NOT suffered a huge loss at global competitions (WC/Olympics) in OVER TWENTY YEARS (since 2003 WC).

[wanaj0]

One leg good, two legs better. Said the sheep...

This is the kind of pedestrian analysis that you often see with Nigerians fronting to be knowledgeable about football.

What were the results pre Randy. MORE IMPORTANTLY, what was the strength of the opposition back then vs now?

True, the results are not good in this tournament. But there is clear evidence of continued progress and positives that can be built on if we get our acts together...

But this is precisely the kind of third rate analysis that leads Nigerian officials astray...

Well do HEG

Even the much-maligned "Lesbian Hunter" Eucharia Uche got similar (if not better) results at the WC...
Losing narrowly to TWO-TIMES DEFENDING WORLD CHAMPIONS and HOST Germany 0-1 and France 0-1, and beating Canada 1-0.

Unlike the dishonest narrative often spun on these pages...
The Super Falcons have NOT suffered a huge loss at global competitions (WC/Olympics) in OVER TWENTY YEARS (since 2003 WC).

Makes me remember when Berti the world class coach was touted as the best based on the massage T shirts he was giving the SE players

[txj]

One leg good, two legs better. Said the sheep...

This is the kind of pedestrian analysis that you often see with Nigerians fronting to be knowledgeable about football.

What were the results pre Randy. MORE IMPORTANTLY, what was the strength of the opposition back then vs now?

True, the results are not good in this tournament. But there is clear evidence of continued progress and positives that can be built on if we get our acts together...

But this is precisely the kind of third rate analysis that leads Nigerian officials astray...

Well do HEG

Even the much-maligned "Lesbian Hunter" Eucharia Uche got similar (if not better) results at the WC...
Losing narrowly to TWO-TIMES DEFENDING WORLD CHAMPIONS and HOST Germany 0-1 and France 0-1, and beating Canada 1-0.

Unlike the dishonest narrative often spun on these pages...
The Super Falcons have NOT suffered a huge loss at global competitions (WC/Olympics) in OVER TWENTY YEARS (since 2003 WC).

HEG strikes again!
Remind me again, did Eucharia's team catch the early flight home or they went on to the next round?

These are small examples of false analysts who deceive unsuspecting Nigerians with out of context data and 3rd grade analysis...

[Gotti]

HEG strikes again!
Remind me again, did Eucharia's team catch the early flight home or they went on to the next round?

These are small examples of false analysts who deceive unsuspecting Nigerians with out of context data and 3rd grade analysis...

You mean like Randy's team just did...