Nigeria’s Super Falcons have bowed out of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup after losing 4-2 via penalties to England.
The match ended goalless in regulation and extra time with both teams missing beautiful chances to lead the game.
End to end stuff
In the first half, Ashleigh Plumptre struck the crossbar with a fierce shot from outside the box. England also failed to find the breakthrough when Tosin Demehin mistimed her attempted clearance. Chiamaka Nnadozie saved well to deny the Lionesses.
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Early in the second half, Uchenna Kanu headed the ball onto the crossbar as the Super Falcons looked quite promising.
The introduction of Asisat Oshoala did not trouble the English defence more than before she came on. Sarina Weigman’s team were sharp in midfield and created good attacking forays. However, the Nigerian defence, marshalled by the tough Osinachi Ohale, was very much equal to the task.
Star player Lauren James was sent off late in the game for a stamp on Houston Dash player Michelle Alozie. The succeeding minutes after the red card witnessed England gaining more of the possession. In fact, it looked like it was Nigeria that had gotten the red card.
Extra time didn’t look interesting for the West Africans but they must be commended for pushing the Lionesses all the way to penalties.
Substitute Desire Oparanozie and Alozie missed from the spot for the Super Falcons. However, Rasheedat Ajibade and Christy Ucheibe netted their kicks for Randy Waldrum’s ladies.
Meanwhile, Bethany England, Rachel Daly and Alex Greenwood scored for the European champions. Chloe Kelly, who scored the winner for England against Germany in the Euro final, scored the decisive penalty in Brisbane.
“Difficult to watch” for England fans
After the match, a UK journalist confirmed that the game was “difficult to watch” for the England faithfuls.
This journalist believes England were “outclassed and out-thought” in the last 16 encounter.
Of course he, alongside other English fans, did not expect the game to turn out the way it did. Randy Waldrum’s charges performed beyond everyone’s expectations.
The atmosphere around the England supporters was a very different one from what it was towards the dying stages of the match. The European Champions were really stretched and the red card for the top goal contributor so far means they will have to be more coordinated and organized in attack going forward.
Now, they understand that no team can be underrated and will not be complacent in any way.
Nigeria failed to capitalise
After England went a player down, Nigeria should have taken full advantage in extra time.
Rather, the nine-time African champions failed to keep their cool, launching every ball at sight forward to an isolated Oshoala.
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Most of 30 minutes extra time were largely wasted with unnecessary, unambitious long balls. The Super Falcons should have instead kept their cool and connect passes with aplomb. Coach Randy Waldrum failed to caution the ladies from that style of play and it hurt them in the end.
Fourth-ranked England will now play either Jamaica or Colombia in the quarter-finals in Sydney on Saturday.
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