The Nigerian Super Falcons faced a 4-2 defeat against England in a penalty shootout during an intense Round of 16 match at the ongoing FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
Before the Round of 16 match, Nigeria’s Super Falcons secured second place in Group B with five points, trailing Australia but ahead of Canada and the Republic of Ireland.
Their victory against Australia, the 10th-ranked team according to FIFA, stands out as one of the competition’s highlights. However, their failure to replicate this success against the 22nd-ranked Republic of Ireland led them to a second-place finish and set up a Round of 16 encounter with England, the Group D leaders.
Despite the 40th-ranked Falcons facing the fourth-ranked Lionesses according to FIFA, they approached the game as equals, not underdogs.
The clash between Africa’s top-ranked team and the European champions concluded in a goalless draw at Brisbane’s Lang Park. The Lionesses were reduced to 10 players in the 85th minute.
The dynamics remained unchanged through the extra time, leading to a penalty shootout. Unfortunately, Desire Oparanozie and Michelle Alozie missed their spot-kicks for the Falcons.
The outcome meant the Super Falcons exited the competition and won’t participate in the Women’s World Cup quarter-finals. Randy Waldrum’s team will return to Nigeria this week, and the players will go back to their respective clubs shortly.
With the World Cup behind them, the Super Falcons will shift their focus to the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualification. They are set to face Sao Tome and Principe in a two-legged tie on September 18 and 26 this year.
Analyzing the Super Falcons’ loss to England, Audu Ojo, head coach of Dawaki Rangers, expressed mixed feelings. He praised their strong fight against a favored team but highlighted coaching and player issues. He believed the coach should have capitalized on the advantage of an extra player after Lauren James received a red card. Ojo also pointed out the penalty shootout flaws, including player selections and positioning.
Despite the result against England, Ojo commended the Falcons for surpassing expectations and facing challenging circumstances. He advised them to regroup, focus on their future endeavors, and excel in the upcoming Women’s AFCON qualification.
“They should return home, reassess their strategies, and concentrate on their next endeavor later this year,” he concluded.