Former Nigerian international, Friday Ekpo, has urged the Super Falcons to focus on the 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations after the team’s exit from the Paris Olympic women’s football event.
Recall that Nigeria lost their final group C game against Japan on Wednesday, to finish the tournament without a win. The team had first lost to Brazil and Spain, respectively.
Read Also: Paris 2024 Women’s Football: How Super Falcons Rated In Disappointing Defeat To Japan
Reacting after Nigeria’s exit, Ekpo, in a chat with Completesports.com stated that the Super Falcons should forget about the disappointment of the Paris Olympics and focus on the 2025 WAFCON.
“After this tournament, I think the team needs better preparation and introduction of young players in the Super Falcons.
“We should accept the reality that the team is out of the Olympic Games and focus on helping have a better showing at the 2025 wafcon.”
“The players must come home with their heads held high.”
16 Comments
Our next coach shud come. From Japan .it like they have something which is lacking in most of our teams .. it is long a Nigerian team play long ball . It is long Nigerian team score free kicks with accuracy. Enough of European football. Even Brazil teams on a good day fall asleep wen dey are given Asian dosage of football.
KoreA Japanese team are doing something right.
Yeah…@Sportradio88.0 fm 12, ur observatiin is spot on. I have the same feelings. It seems the asians ahead of south America and Europe in terms of tactics both in.ale andfemale football.
The problem with our teams is that they thought dey can win a game with one week camping the nff turned to nfa in common palance . Benin republic wil come to beat eagles in Kaduna again south Africa are playing friendly in disguise using Orlando pirate as a decour and ,they said dey are playing club friendly chi how are the mighty falling.pls Japan give us one confu and karate coach to train our football team houw to compete in a game ..our teams can’t bark again not to talk of biting their opponent
Integrity is very important as a coach and I believe the Japanese football coaches don’t play with integrity. They know what they want and go for it, NFF take note and do good for once please!!!!
I affirm.
Nigerians are still proud of you girls
Facing those tough teams in Olympic is a blessing for Nigeria female football.
Word!
What is there to build on? There is no current momentum with this team. Their play is so disjointed that you wonder what they do in training. Most of the players are good individually but their decision making is so appalling. You can see that the coach wants them to play from the back but the players have continuously struggled with making simple accurate passes in their own half. Majority of the pressure they faced during the course of their matches here were self inflicted. Watching the falcons play these days is an eyesore. The players seem jittery and are too laborious in their transitional play. We have refused to grow over the years. Maybe this is Their ceiling. I dont know if a change in coach is needed but this team needs to believe more in their own ability to play simple football.
The elimination of the Super Falcons is disappointing. Depressing.
But we must not lose sight of the real issues.
From an administrative perspective, Nigeria’s elimination was DESERVED!
THOROUGHLY DESERVED!
Our inept, corrupt officials were in competition with their competent colleagues from Spain, Brazil and Japan.
We did not stand much of a chance.
People may blame the coach and the players. But the lion share of the blame must be placed on our administrators, the Olympic officials and NFF ONIGBESE.
With more competent administration and support, I have no doubt that this same Super Falcons would have done better in this competition.
It’s the same issue with the Super Eagles and all our other national teams. Shoddy administration and terrible decision making has contributed to our poor performance in the world cup qualifiers. Finidi was sacked, but the nitwits that employed him still have their jobs!
Look at D’Tigress. They won their first game against Australia, thanks to their young coach and the sheer skill and determination of the players. Left to our administrators, one of our best players Ezinne Kalu would have missed the games, because she and her other team mates strongly protested the nonpayment of their bonuses. This was the main reason behind the demise of that great team under coach Otis Hughley.
For Nigeria athletes, the struggle to get good results is like trying to swim upstream in a turbulent river. Swimming downstream is much easier, because you’re swimming with the current. But when you have to swim against the current, even simple things become incredibly difficult.
Inadequate or even total absence of administrative support makes it so much harder for our athletes to achieve their goals.
Great comments this early hour may God here our prayers. NFF come read this forum and get advice on how to make quality decisions. Meanwhile rumours have it that Chelle ex mali coach is our next coach, if yes then that’s not a bad idea for us to proceed with but how soon the announcement comes is what matters now. Meanwhile I use this thread to apologise to Dr Drey for Derogatory words yesterday, and I will always say this doesn’t represent me as the sentiment for positive change in our sports breeds this outrage. Make God forgive us all!!!
Hahahaha….Go to hell and never return. And keep my damn name out of your serpentine mouth.
What you do on daily basis doesn’t represent you….LMAOoo. Tell that to rodents that feed on corpses in abandoned cemeteries.
What you’ve just drank to make you this sober will soon wear off and everyone will see you again for who you truly are…..LMAOoo.
I wouldnt say so if I’ve not known you for over a decade.
God bless you.
*hear
Tournament Player Ratings
It didn’t go to plam in France as the Super Falcons were unable to build upon the foundations of their admirable outing in the world cup last year, having succumb to 3 soul destroying losses in the Olympics.
Below are my brief observations of how the players performed throughout the tournament.
1 GK Tochukwu Oluehi: she didn’t see any action however, could this be her last tournament for Nigeria? (no ratings)
16 GK Chiamaka Nnadozie: Her credentials as one of the best goalkeepers in the business remain untarnished with some truly breathtaking goalkeeping interceptions. 7/10
2 DF Michelle Alozie: She can be a weak link at times in 1v1 situations in being dribbled and allowing crossings in. She is not always overly impressive on the ball and she can be dispossessed. Professional: yes, compelling: no. 5/10
3 DF Osinachi Ohale: Long balls from her were harmless and her leadership skills were not seen. However, marking, tackles and interceptions are neither careless nor crude. Timing is good and attitude is exemplary. 6.5/10
4 DF Nicole Payne: She made a strong case for starting berths in future with sleek mobility and a can-do attitude on the ball as a sub. Her movements show intent and her magnetic screen presence grabbed my attention and locked it in place. 7/10
5 DF Chidinma Okeke: Her attitude was respectable and she showed great potentials to attempt to overcome adversity. But her return to tournament football was marked and marred (at times) with questionable positioning, ineffective marking and near-non existent overlapping play. (4.5/10)
14 DF Oluwatosin Demehin: You always get the sense that her best is reserved for future tournaments. Timing of her tackles were suspect and her long balls to attackers were forgettable. Overall, focus and concentration were to good standards. 5.5/10
7 MF Toni Payne: She is not at her best in the middle. Perhaps it is time she returns to the flanks for good. She struggled to shrug off markers and was unable to influence games compellingly despite sporadic good efforts here and there. 4/5/10
10 MF Christy Ucheibe: She is not a force to reckon with in the offensive elements of the game. It didn’s stop her shooting at goal or providing an assist. Overall, more centre and defensive roles are where she shines brightest. 6/10
11 MF Jennifer Echegini: Well, I have to rein in my frustration. I think it is easy to bump her off the ball and the whole midfield orientation and understanding were lost to her. Her credentials as a credible goal scorer with top notch technique shone through. 4/10
13 MF Deborah Abiodun: This lady deserves an award for the most tireless, relentless, painstaking and fluid defensive midfielder for Nigeria. She is flawless in her defensive applications which takes her to the nook and cranny of the patch. 8/10
15 FW Rasheedat Ajibade: She was lively on the flanks with penetrating runs, compelling dribbles and promising deliveries. She was less composed in front of goal though and less influential in midfield. 6/10
6 FW Esther Okoronkwo: As lively as grig offensively and defensively.Now that is a centre forward who can also moonlight as a winger with remarkable level of efficiency. 6/10
8 FW Asisat Oshoala: Her hold up play in midfield was commendable and her through long passes hit the mark. I am worried that she appears to have lost her raw pace and tenacity – at least in this tournament (something that was her trademark and her unique selling point). She does endeavor to put in the shift. 5/10
9 FW Chinonyerem Macleans: A controversial centre forward selection that saw no action when wingers should have be taken instead.
12 FW Uchenna Kanu: She was often introduced late and even at that struggled to leave a mark. Her runs were picked off and her passes cut off. 4/10
17 FW Chinwendu Ihezuo: Her primary responsibility was to score goals and in fairness she got into dangerous areas. However, restrained composure and inadequate technique proved her undoing. 4.5/10
18 FW Ifeoma Onumonu: A credible centre forward who proved time and again that wingplay is not her forte. 4.5/10
19. Coach Randy Waldrum: Picking Iheuzo as his biggest goal threat backfired. Playing Onumonu on the flanks failed to inspire. Over-reliance on Toni Payne-Christie Ucheibe midfield proved unproductive. The selection of Okeke in left bank tanked. And the introduction of 4-1-4-1 formation bombed badly.
Am proud of girls you gave ur all @the Olympic up super falcons!!!!!!!!!
I am watching Brazil and Spain and I wonder how we (the Falcons) lost to these 2 teams, especially Brazil….Jeeeez….These teams don’t deserve to play in the semis with the sloppiness they are displaying for the major part of this game….NFF needs to go….With this stupid organization as presently constituted, we can never realize our potential in football generally….