2024 Olympics Nigeria 0 Brazil 1: Five observations from Super Falcons narrow defeat to Selecao

Nigeria, on Thursday evening, began their 2024 Olympics campaign with a narrow loss to Brazil's Selecao.

The Nigerian team was defeated 1-0 by Brazil, with the only goal of the match being scored by Gabi Nunesfrom an assist by Marta in the 37th minute.

Allnigeriasoccer.com provides five observations from the match.

Nigeria Struggle Without Presence Of Recognized Striker 

Nigeria on Thursday opened her Olympic campaign in football with a clash against Brazil. The Falcons faced difficulties in the absence of a recognized striker during their Olympic clash against Brazil. 

Despite a promising start and creating numerous opportunities, the team struggled to capitalize on their chances. 

Coach Randy Waldrum adjusted and made a change at the start of the second half, replacing Chinwendu Ihezuo with Esther Okoronkwo.

Rasheedat Ajibade Impresses, Forces Brazil To Make Change 

Rasheedat Ajibade, the captain of the Super Falcons, made a notable impact against Brazil by presenting a challenge for the South American team on the flanks. 

The Atlético de Madrid  forward was successful in winning various one-on-one battles against Tamires Cassia Dias Gomes, prompting the coach to make a substitution in the first half. 

Ajibade exploited Tamires' defensive vulnerabilities, as the Brazilian defender had difficulty coping with her combination of skill, speed, and physical presence. 

Yasmim Assis Ribeiro was brought on as a substitute for the fullback in the 36th minute.

Brazil Exploits Falcons Defensive Vulnerabilities 

With the absence of Ashleigh Plumptre and Onome Obi, the Super Falcons struggled against the experienced and quality of the Brazilian attack. 

Nigeria's defense, featuring younger players like Blessing Demehin and Chindinma Okeke had difficulty containing the skillful and well-positioned Brazilian team. 

As a result, Brazil took advantage of the Falcons' defensive weaknesses to score the opening goal in the first half, despite Nigeria having a good spell of possession leading up to the goal.

Oshoala from first Name on the Teamsheet to Bench 

Since leaving Barcelona, Assist Oshoala has found it challenging to secure a spot in the starting lineup for Nigeria. 

In the match against Brazil, coach Waldrum chose to keep her on the bench in favour of younger strikers, despite the team’s struggles in the forward position. 

This current scenario has sparked doubts about the once highly-regarded talent of the former Barcelona player.

Impressive Officiating From Yu-Jeong Kim

Despite the physicality and fast-paced nature of the match, South Korean referee Yu-Jeong-Kim demonstrated impressive officiating skills and maintained control throughout. 

A controversial moment arose when the Brazilian team claimed for a penalty due to a handball situation in the box. Despite the appeals, the referee remained unfazed and, after a VAR review, correctly did not award a penalty to the South Americans.  

Furthermore, Kim confidently managed the game, only issuing a yellow card to Brazilian player Vitoria Yaha in the first half. 

Her authoritative and composed demeanor facilitated the smooth running of the match and allowed for a fluid game play.

Adeyemi Adewale

Photo Credit: superfalconsshow.com

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