Nigeria vs Brazil: 5 things we learnt as Super Falcons lose on return to Olympic Games

Nigeria’s Super Falcons failed to secure any points from their opening match at the 2024 Olympics against Brazil, but with the disappointment also came some learning points that they can act on to avoid similar errors in future.

The Super Falcons having a goalscoring problem is an understatement at this point, and it often looks like it would take divine intervention for the ball to hit the back of the net whenever Nigeria play, especially against top opposition.

The 1-0 loss to Brazil marked the third game in a row that Nigeria failed to score in international tournament final matches after 0-0 draws against Ireland and England at the 2023 World Cup.

In the last nine matches at global tournaments outside including the Olympic Games and the World Cup, the Super Falcons have only scored five goals. Worse still, those five goals have come in only two games.

A 2-0 win over South Korea in 2019 and a 3-2 win over Australia in 2023, meaning Nigeria’s leading ladies have failed to find the back of the net in seven of their last nine global tournament matches. Indeed, even both Olympic qualification games against South Africa and Cameroon were decided by one goal over two legs, while the only warm-up game before the 2024 Paris games was a 1-0 loss to Canada.

Against Brazil in the opening game of the Olympic Games, Nigeria struggled yet again to score and they were made to rue missed chances as their forwards fluffed their lines yet again.

One of the reasons why Nigeria struggled against Brazil was that captain Rasheedat Ajibade appeared to be leading the attack on her own, especially when the Super Falcons had the opportunity to hit on the break.

Thanks to Ajibade’s pace, none of Nigeria’s attackers were able to keep up with the Atletico Madrid attacker when she broke on the wing and left the team captain stranded without passing options on multiple occasions.

Neither Chinwendu Ihezuo nor Ifeoma Onumonu who replaced her was able to offer consistent support for Ajibade up front, during counter-attacks, dulling the bite of Nigeria’s frontline.

Given the two points above, this should come as no surprise. With Nigeria desperately searching for a goal against Brazil to get a point in the opening game of the Olympics, the country’s leading active goalscorer getting a sum total of zero minutes is diabolical.

Although Oshoala is not as blisteringly quick as she once was, she still represents a valuable option upfront for Nigeria with her positioning and understanding of space in the box.

Even though she might no longer command a starting spot, she clearly still has a lot to offer Nigeria, and the players who have been given the opportunity to play have not shown that they are an upgrade on the Bay FC striker.

One of Nigeria’s favourites Michelle Alozie struggled again against Brazil, raising questions about her filling in at full-back for the Super Falcons.

Alozie, who regularly plays as a forward for the Houston Dash in the NWSL has become a mainstay at right back for the Super Falcons, but her not being a natural defender sometimes comes to the fore against top opposition.

She found herself exposed against Brazil, unable to offer her usual attacking input and leaving Ajibade without support as the Houston Dash star focused on her struggles with coping with the Brazilian attack.

When Nicole Payne, a natural defender took over the role, there was a marked difference in the defensive output, even if only for 15 minutes.

Against tougher opposition, it is worth considering having Payne over Alozie, especially against teams that utilise the wings as their main source of creating chances.

Among the disappointments of Nigeria’s opening game against Brazil, there were bright sparks for Nigeria, that point to a bright future for the Super Falcons.

Defender Blessing Demehin and midfielder Deborah Abiodun were among the few Super Falcons players to show that they were on the level of their opponents and showed that they are two players that the team’s future should be built upon.

Abiodun in particular belied her 20 years of age with a composed display in midfield for the Super Falcons, doing immense work to shield the Nigerian defence from Brazil.

The Pittsburgh Panthers midfielder earned her “Kante” nickname against Brazil, emulating the iconic French midfielder with her work-rate and ball recovery skills.

Against Brazil, Abiodun made the most interceptions and tackles of any player on the pitch and also completed more passes than her Super Falcons teammates and was focal for Nigeria’s recycling of possession, putting on a display that marks her as one to watch for the future.