Izuchukwu OkosiThe Nigeria women’s national team Super Falcons on Tuesday evening booked their passage to the next round of qualifiers to the football event of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games with an emphatic 4-0 win over the Lucy of Ethiopia.
The won ensures that the team progresses 5-1 on aggregate and are set to play against Cameroon who after the Nigerian game defeated Uganda 3-2 to advance after losing 2-0 in the first leg.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelPrime Business Africa’s Izuchukwu Okosi writes on the takeaways from the games by the team.
1. Bumpy MKO Abiola Stadium
The Super Falcons emerged winners after the two-legged fixtures but did so playing on pitches that should be better.
The MKO Abiola Stadium was refurbished during the last leg of qualifiers to the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, a project undertaken by Africa’s richest businessman, Aliko Dangote.
There is no excuse for any outcome but it just begs the question of why a national team – the most successful in Africa in terms of medals won – will be prosecuting international matches on stadiums that are not of standards.
2. The Waldrum Contract
The Nigeria Football Federation insists that coach Randy Waldrum is still in charge of the team despite his contract situation having not been resolved.
The team have played two important games without the American who led them to an impressive FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
Although the idea of coaches having a dual job and taking Nigerian teams as a side hustle should be dealt with, the players have a working relationship with Waldrum and should be handed a new deal until at least after the Olympics in Paris.
3. Falcons Best Central Defensive Options
The duo of Akudo Ogonna and Tosin Demehin were central defenders in the 4-0 romp over Ethiopia.
The young lasses performed excellently as a pair and that certainly gives whoever is in charge of the team selection some ‘good headaches’ with options.
When fit and against a great team, Osinachi Ohale is expected to play but who partners her is up for debate.
4. Plumptre’s Return
Since the end of the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, Al Ittihad Women’s summer signing, Ashleigh Plumptre has not played for the Super Falcons.
Perhaps her contract negotiations and bedding-in period at the Saudi Arabian club has something to do with it, but it is about time she returns to the fold and be part o the next round of qualifiers.
Hopefully, her non invitation has got nothing to do with issues with the team.
The Falcons will be up against their counterparts from Cape Verde in the third round of the qualification series for the AWCON at the end of November and we expect to see the Nigerian ‘Oyibo’ in the team to add experience to the defence.
5. New Falcons
The additon of names like Rofiat Imuran, Tosin Demehin, Esther Onyenezide, Precious Sebastian and now Rinsola Babajide would only add more competitiveness to the team.
However, the changes to the team must not be wholesome but gradual phase out of the older generation.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
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