Five takeaways from Nigeria’s tough defeat to Japan and exit from the Paris Olympics: ‘Jenni in the record books’

Nigeria’s Super Falcons have exited the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in the group stage after suffering a 3-1 loss to Japan in Nantes on Wednesday, Soccernet.ng reports.

Here are the five takeaways from the defeat.

Nigeria’s constant loss of concentration

Nigeria’s adventure at the Paris 2024 Olympics will be defined by the Super Falcons’ lack of concentration in key moments.

Against Spain and Brazil, the Super Falcons were defensively solid for large portions of the encounters, conceding goals that seemed to appear out of nowhere.

On Wednesday, against Japan, the same problem surfaced as Nigeria shipped three goals in the first half of a match they badly needed to win.

Japan’s first two goals arrived from moments when it looked as if the Super Falcons’ defence took a nap.

The third came in the last seconds of the half after Nigeria had done well to reduce the deficit. Such a switch-off against a side as clinical as Japan was always going to be punished.

Jennifer Echegini enters Nigeria’s record books at the Olympics

It was not all doom and gloom, though, as amid the disappointment, there was a tiny spark to celebrate. 

Jennifer Echegini scored Nigeria’s first goal at the 2024 Paris Olympics, becoming only the fourth player to get a goal for Nigeria in the tournament’s history.

Mercy Akide remains Nigeria’s finest with four Olympic goals. Perpetual Nkwocha managed two before she bowed out while Vera Okolo scored one in 2004. Echegini has now joined that illustrious list.

Nigeria deserved to exit the Olympics

The Super Falcons grabbed the attention of the planet last year when they stayed unbeaten against formidable foes like Canada, Australia, and England at the FIFA Women’s World Cup. 

Many expected a repeat of that feat at the Olympics but the Super Falcons have been less than impressive.

Admittedly, it was always going to be a difficult challenge after being grouped with world champions Spain, South American champions Brazil, and Asian champions Japan.

However, one win over any of these teams would have likely been enough to get Nigeria to the quarterfinals.

Unfortunately, in between numerous wasted chances and defensive frailties, the Falcons can look back and honestly accept that they deserved to be out of the Olympics.

Super Falcons need a new goal queen

Nigeria have an excellent defender in Tosin Demehin and brilliant midfielders in Toni Payne, Deborah Abiodun, and Christy Ucheibe.

The quality in attack is also of a good level with the presence of Asisat Oshoala, Rasheedat Ajibade, and Chinwendu Ihezuo.

However, none of Nigeria’s current strikers guarantee consistent goals and the Super Falcons have struggled to get the ball into the opponent’s net this year.

Ajibade’s penalty was all Nigeria could muster in two qualifying games against South Africa and just one in three games at the Olympics. That is unacceptable. 

Clearly, coach Randy Waldrum needs to unearth a new free-scoring striker in the mould of the great Perpetual Nkwocha. It could be time to promote youngsters Esther Ajakaye and Esther Onyenezide to the senior team.

The future of Nigeria is bright

One good thing about the Super Falcons is that Randy Waldrum has built his team around young players who, though short on experience, are not lacking in quality.

Ajibade, Demehin, Abiodun, Ucheibe, Echegini, and Nnadozie are all 23 or under. They will have more time to play together, improve together, and grow to become a better team.

With these youngsters at the next World Cup and Olympics, the Super Falcons will make a bigger impact than they have managed these past few months.