International friendly: Five observations from Super Falcons' 2-1 loss to France's Les Bleues

Nigeria's Super Falcons lost 2-1 to  France's Les Bleues in a friendly match held on Saturday night.

Eugénie Le Sommer put Le Blues ahead in the 29th minute, followed by Amel Majri extending their lead to 2-0 in the 37th minute.

However, Nigeria narrowed the gap before halftime when Ifeoma Onumonu capitalized on a quick counter-attack.

Despite the loss, the match provided Nigeria with an opportunity to fine-tune their squad in preparation for the upcoming WAFCON tournament.

Allnigeriasoccer.com presents five observations from the game

Falcons Struggle Without Key Players

In the friendly match on Saturday night aimed at preparing for the 2025 AFCON, Nigeria took on France but was hindered by the absence of several key players, including Asisat Oshoala, Rasheedat Ajibade, and Demehin.

Without these crucial players, the Super Falcons found it difficult to maintain consistent pressure on their opponents.

The team struggled with cohesion and failed to pose a significant threat to France throughout the game.

Particularly in the first half, France dominated possession while Nigeria had a hard time advancing beyond their own half.

France Neutralizes Nigeria with High Press

The Super Eagles of Nigeria faced difficulties in building from the back, frequently losing possession due to France's effective high press.

Determined to implement their game plan, Nigeria attempted to play out from the back, but France's relentless pressing allowed them to regain possession in critical areas of the field.

This strategy placed Nigeria under significant pressure, making it challenging for them to devise effective plans and create threats against their opponents.

Nigeria too vulnerable defensively

The Super Falcons faced significant defensive vulnerabilities in the absence of Demehin.

With her sidelined, the defensive responsibilities fell to Ohale and Plumptre, who struggled to cope with the pace and movement of the French forwards.

This duo was frequently exposed, leading to considerable pressure on the team throughout the match.

Given their difficulties, the Falcons were fortunate to have conceded only two goals against a relentless French attack.

Nnadozie heroics keep the score line respectable

Falcons goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie delivered an impressive performance despite Nigeria's defeat against France.

Missing several key players, the Falcons found it difficult to keep pace with the French team and were frequently pressured.

Despite France's persistent attacks and breaching of Nigeria's defense, Nnadozie made multiple crucial saves.

Her efforts ensured that France only managed to score two goals, maintaining a more respectable scoreline for Nigeria.

Amel Majri impresses against Nigeria

Amel Majri's performance against Nigeria highlighted her crucial role in France's attack, particularly along the flanks.

Her pace and ability to stretch the Nigerian defense created significant problems, allowing her to exploit space effectively.

Additionally, her intelligence in dropping into midfield helped France control the game, especially given Nigeria's challenge in regaining possession without key players like Deborah.

By consistently applying pressure and making smart runs, Majri not only contributed to France's offensive efforts but also disrupted Nigeria's defensive organization.

Adeyemi Adewale

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