Nigeria’s quest to win a 10th African women’s title got off to a superb start when they thumped Tunisia 3-0 in Casablanca on Sunday. But the big win failed to mask questions about the team’s lack of cohesion for large swathes of the game, against what was middling opposition.
Nor did it provide much on how the team will line up against Botswana in their next game after some barnstorming performances from the second half substitutes.
Forward Asisat Oshoala joined fellow NWSL stars Barbra Banda and Rachael Kundanaji in opening her AWomen’s Africa Cup of Nations account on matchday one, glancing in a header from Rinsola Babajide’s freekick past Soulaima Jabani within the first four minutes.
Babajide, on her debut, won the freekick after she was clattered into, and delivered the perfect ball for Oshoala. It was the first-time WAFCON participant who doubled Nigeria’s advantage just before halftime, storming past Chaima Alabbassi to drive home a daisy cutter past Jabrani.
She immediately paid tribute to the late Liverpool player Diego Jota with her celebration,
“It was for Diogo Jota,” she said. “And his brother as well. That was one of his biggest celebrations. We call it the signature celebration. I just wanted to do something for him, he was one of my best players at the club when I was there.
Defender Ashleigh Plumptre, a key offensive presence from leftback for Nigeria, thought she had a third just before the break, guiding in Babajide’s cornerkick at the near post, but the effort was ruled out for a foul on the goalkeeper.
The Super Falcons were not to be denied however, as the effervescent Plumptre lumped a cross into the box, substitute Esther Okoronkwo won the header and fellow substitute Chinwendu Ihezuo swept home from close range for the Super Falcons’ first opening day win in three tournaments.
Not Nigeria’s best performance
Against a team that the Super Falcons should normally be expected to ride roughshod over, they made heavy weather of it. It was perhaps fortunate that Oshoala’s opening goal came as early as it did.
A casual observer would have been forgiven for wondering if this was indeed the famed Super Falcons. Even head coach Justin Madugu did not shy away from this.
“It is the first match. Naturally, sometimes a lot of factors come in to play and you don’t expect your team to be at their best playing in the first game,” Madugu said.
Plumptre added: “It’s the first game of the tournament, so there were a lot of nerves and excitement. But to come out with three goals and a cleansheet is a nice way to start.”
Another reason could be the changing rotation Madugu has deployed in the three buildup games ahead of this tournament. Including Sunday’s game against Tunisia, only two players, captain Rasheedat Ajibade and defender Tosin Demehin have started all four. Another six players, including goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, started three games and three of the XI against Tunisia were only starting their second of the four games this cycle.
Esther Okoronkwo, whose entrance sparked the team back into life and earned her Woman of the Match honours, is optimistic improvements will show in the next game
“It was the first game, so we were just trying to get our energy together,” she said.
“Work together and create as much chances as we could. Obviously the goals were going to come and they did come. But we just have to take the positive into the next game and eventually get more goals and more wins.”
Madugu’s tactical adjustments
Madugu has a lot to prove to Nigerians about his ability to lead this team. The fact that the NFF have not seen fit to turn his interim tag to permanent is proof that they are thinking in the same direction.
Despite the result, his team’s start did not inspire much confidence. Playing Deborah Abiodun high up rather in her usual double pivot with Halimatu Ayinde cameclose to ending in disaster. Playing Ajibade central when her best work is usually done out wide limited her abilities. On the occasions when she drifted wide, it was clear she felt much more comfortable. There seemed to be little attempt made to structure the tactics to play to the strengths of the players.
To his credit, Madugu made the adjustments in the second half, making a triple substitution at the break, with Abiodun, Oshoala and Babajide off and Ucheibe, Okoronkwo and Ihezuo on. It worked wonders as the floundering attack perked up.
Better discipline from Abiodun, please
The Dallas Trinity midfielder, who was sent off with a straight red card on her World Cup debut, was fortunate not to suffer the same fate against Tunisia — twice.
First, she crunched a clumsy, mistimed and dangerous tackle on Tunisia’s Raina Aouina. However, referee Suavis Iratunga opted to issue a yellow card instead of a red card to the relief of the Nigeria bench. Just before halftime, she was again involved in a similar challenge. Again, a red would not have been harsh and a yellow would have been in keeping with the first offence. But once again, Iratunga let her off with a warning.
Madugu hauled Abiodun off at halftime.
Oshoala headache
Asisat Oshoala was on the scoresheet, but she was largely contained. Madugu was not shy to ring the changes at halftime.
“Everybody has an equal chance of being in the team,” Madugu said. “Whoever does well continues and whoever does not do well obviously because we want to do better, we have the privilege of making those changes so that we get the team going.”
Okoronkwo’s performance more than justified the coach’s change. Not only did she breathe new life into the attack, she set up fellow sub Ihezuo for the third goal, shaved the post with one strike, squeezed another shot wide and almost got a second assist. It was the quintessential impact sub performance, which now leaves Madugu with a huge selection headache ahead of Thursday’s game against Botswana — Oshoala or Okoronkwo? Babajide or Ihezuo? Abiodun or Ucheibe?