Ajibade’s Strike Saves Falcons Blushes against Ethiopia
Nigeria’s Super Falcons forced Ethiopia’s Lucy to a 1-1 draw in a 2024 Olympic Games football event qualifier in Addis Ababa yesterday.
The more illustrious, nine-time African champions were stunned when Ethiopia took the lead, barely six minutes of play as Birkie Amare made hay from a corner kick.
The hosts held on to the lead till end of first half, in a game that witnessed too many missed chances by the Nigerian team that reached Last 16 at the last World Cup in Australia and New Zealand few months ago.
Captain Rasheedat Ajibade’s scorching shot from the edge of the box, six minutes after the restart, restored parity at the Abebe Bekila Stadium.
With Asisat Oshoala in the top-striking position, Uchenna Kanu and Gift Monday operated from the wings, with Michelle Alozie switched to left back to allow Nicole Payne take charge at right back. Oluwatosin Demehin and Akudo Ogbonna took control at the centre of the defence, and with Christy Ucheibe and Halimatu Ayinde unavailable, Peace Efih joined Toni Payne and Ajibade to string things together in the middle.
Both teams found it hard to create many opportunities in a tight first period, though Asisat Oshoala should have done better with an opportunity from Payne’s cross halfway into the period.
After Ajibade restored parity, the Falcons took full control, and substitute Ifeoma Onumonu should have put Nigeria in the lead in the 64th minute, only to be denied as she cocked the trigger.
Payne and Onumonu combined to create a gilt-edged opportunity in the 79th minute, but once more Oshoala failed to make hay.
The Falcons thought they had won it when Onumonu towered above all to head into the net on the dot of time. However, Algerian referee Lamia Atman spotted foul play in the build-up.
The Super Falcons were a team without a coach or a game plan as Randy Waldrum, who guided them to the Round of 16 at the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand stayed away and assistant coach Justin Madugu stood in for him. Waldrum’s contract situation with the NFF has yet to be resolved, officials said.
Both teams will clash again at the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja on Tuesday, with the winner on aggregate to proceed to the third round, where the winner of the Cameroon/Uganda fixture awaits.
