Tochukwu Oluehi : The goalkeeper, before the goal she conceded, organized her defense and dealt with set pieces commendably.  

Could do nothing about the goal as she was left unprotected by the wandering defenders. 6/10.

Faith Ikidi : The oldest member of the squad at 31, Ikidi had a decent game. Aside her defensive duties she darted forward at will to join the attack.

She delivered a tantalizing cross in the 40th minute but Asisat Oshoala's resultant header went wide. 6/10.

Ngozi Ebere : The PSG left back had a better first half than the second as the goal scored by Chrestinah Kgatlana came through her position.

Every intercepted and tackled superbly in the first half and was also handy in starting attacks from the back but it all went cold in the second stanza. 5/10.

Onome Ebi : Ebi was lucky not to have been scapegoated for an error leading to a goal when Rafiloe Jane's feeble shot was smothered by goalkeeper Oluehi in the 26th minute after the South African forward shrugged her off.

Ebi was sloppy in discharging her defensive duties, certainly one of her worst games for Nigeria. 5/10.

Osinachi Ohale : The 26- year old centre back cleared the ball bravely as Jermaine Seoposenwe made to strike the ball in the 45th minute. That was the highlight of her game on Sunday.

Ohale is a no nonsense defender but she had good moments in spats and would need to better this performance in subsequent group games. 6/10.

Halimat  Ayinde  : Ayinde won the ball and broke plays at will to thwart the efforts of the South Africans before the goal eventually came.  An 'okay' game for the midfielder. 6/10.

Rita Chikwelu : The captain of the Nigerian side looked heavy and slow, gave away possession a couple of times in the first half but her performance improved significantly in the second stanza. Unfortunately went off injured. 5.5/10.

Rasheedat Ajibade : The emerging golden girl of Nigerian football was a threat going forward. She was also willing to help defend when as usual the South African side threatened to score. 7/10.

Francisca Ordega : Ordega switched positions at will with Asisat Oshoala on the flanks. She, like her teammates lost possession a couple of times and blasted the ball wide in the beginning of the second half much to the dissatisfaction of coach Thomas Dennerby. Substituted shortly afterwards. 5/10.

Asisat Oshoala : The African Women's Footballer of the Year was flagged offside in the first half as she bore down on goal, yellow carded for her 'first' foul of the game, had a teed up pass to Desire Oparanozie blasted wide.

Her ball control let her down a few times. 5.5/10.

Desire Oparanozie : The usually reliable Falcons striker was disappointing in this game.  She flashed her shot wide with the South Africans' net gaping after the ball was laid on her path by Asisat Oshoala in the first half.

Oparanozie's header ten minutes to full time was high and wide after a promising build up. 4/10.

The Substitutes

Ngozi Okobi : Okobi helped bring some balance in the midfield with some assured range of passes. 6/10.

Anam Imoh : The former Falconets star could do little to change the tide for Nigeria. Unlike Ordega whom she replaced, Imoh did not provide sufficient ammunition from the flanks in the form of quality crosses. 4/10.

Amarachi Okoronkwo : Yellow carded in her cameo appearance from the bench. A quiet, tepid performance from the former junior international. 4/10.