Nigeria’s Super Falcons will continue their search for their first points in the 2024 Women’s Olympic Football Tournament against Japan on Wednesday. The nine-time African champions deserve credit for holding out for 85 minutes against the world champions, Spain, before conceding a lone goal that handed the Europeans all three points in Nantes on Sunday.
Spain dominated possession, as expected, but it was only through a masterful defensive performance by the Falcons that they managed to secure a narrow victory.
The outcome could have been different if captain Rasheedat Ajibade had not lost her balance when through on goal in the 36th minute, and if substitute Chinwendu Ihezuo had not wasted time deciding what to do with the ball when she had only the goalkeeper to beat in added time.
At times, the Falcons looked dangerous on the counterattack, including in the 23rd minute when Esther Okoronkwo’s shot was saved by the goalkeeper after she connected with a pass from Ajibade. In the 65th minute, Ajibade lifted the ball just a little too high after running onto a backpass from Asisat Oshoala. Oshoala herself had a chance with 18 minutes left but chose to pass when it seemed easier to take the shot.
Earlier in the second half, Salma Paralluelo scored but was ruled offside after bundling the ball past Nnadozie from a corner kick. With nine minutes remaining, Osinachi Ohale cleared the ball off the line as Alexia Putellas, who had been thwarted several times by Nnadozie, took a shot from just outside the box.
The winner came in the 85th minute when the ever-present Putellas curled the ball past Nnadozie from a free-kick on the left side of Nigeria’s defense.
The defeat means the Falcons remain pointless in the tournament and must secure a win against Japan at the same venue on Wednesday to have any chance of progressing to the quarter-finals.
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