Cameroon Vs Nigeria (1:0) - Retrospective Reflection

Although the match was played with a competitive mindset, Nigeria and Cameroon ladies never take any of their encounters as child's play, nonetheless, the Super Falcons were well caged and curtailed in and around Cameroon's 18 yard box.

Clearcut chances for Nigeria were few and painfully far between. Okay, we found success down the left and right flanks with Monday, Babajide and Ajibade running rings around Cameroon fullbacks many times before delivering deft deliveries in the way of low and high crosses. But these crosses proved to be a "hiding to nothing" as they failed to generate credible scoring chances.

At the back, Nigeria were vulnerable.

Isah in centre back and Ogbonna in left back were exposed too many times, ultimately leading to the only goal scored resulting from lapses in concentration from the left back and centre back who failed to coordinate effectively.

It was the now familiar 4-3-3 formation from Madugu.

Erharbor

Oladipo-Isah-Demehin-Ogbonna

Ucheibe

Okobi.Okeoghene-Echegini

Ajibade-Monday-Babajide.

There was often noticeable coordination at the back as the goalkeeper interacted well with her defensive colleague which makes it looks as if she (the goalkeeper) has been with the team for 100 years. Making her debut, Erharbor looked sharper and dialled in, saving the team from an early goal by coming out to smother the chance, sparing Isah's blushes after the centre back handed the Cameroonian striker free access to goal.

Monday was as lively as a butterfly, darting from centre forward to the flanks where she made a nuisance of herself with delicate crosses and neat legovers.

Babajide combined well with those around her and produced moments of class with quality deliveries off the flank which could also be said of Ajibade who exuded maturity with every touch and movement. Yet, the 3 of them failed to fashion a finish against Cameroon defence who stood tall.

The Super Falcons midfield was okay as Echegini showed eagerness and urgency but it could be argued that the physicality of the Cameroonians proved problematic to her. Okobi-Okeoghene was only too happy to be back in the fold and perhaps brought all her years of experience to bear to ensure the team wasn't overrun in the middle, leaving Ucheibe to shield the back 4.

Demehin did her thing with authority but seemed like a stranger to the other 3 defenders she was paired with.

Oladipo tried to stimulate attack initiatives with her overlaps and crosses which were cute.

Omewa, Ijamilusi and Ihezue were eager to get into the thick of things as subs, maybe a bit too eager as some of their deliveries seemed rushed and not well calibrated. The other subs did their best.

Overall, the team played like a collection of diverse strangers invited to a party to know each other for the first time and click rather than a gathering of supremely familiar alumni who all went to the same nursery, primary and secondary schools.

Madugu has assembled a strange smorgasbord of players who will need to be rigorously drilled to achieve coherence, compactness and coordination worthy of credible Wafcon contenders in games to come.