Nigeria 2:0 Comoros - Retrospective Reflection

It was a competent, energetic and entertaining 2:0 winning display by the Super Falcons against Comoros in this first leg Olympic qualifier.

You wouldn't have expected the Super Falcons to lose to Comoros but you wouldn't have expected them to be shambolic at the recently concluded Wafcon either.

I particularly enjoyed the rotational play across the pitch. Up front, Monday, Ajibade and Kanu switched positions effortlessly which added variety to their play and instilled the forward line with tactical unpredictability.

In midfield, Payne and Echegini looked razor sharp and light on their feet.

Finally, a new lease of life was breathed to our centre back as Oladipo took her rightful place to pair with Demehin in a forward look young and vibrant pairing. This allowed Alozie to take her place in right fullback and Ogbonna at the left. They looked balanced with legs and lungs suited for the task.

There were ill-advised instances of selfishness when players at the side in the opposition 18 yard box chose to have a crack at goal instead of laying a neat pass to a better centrally located player.

The two goals were a thing of beauty and precision. For the first, a glorious inswinger was met by a beautiful backward header to Alozie neck-deep in the opposition 18 yard box for her to stab home with poise, grace and panache.

For the second, it happened so fast that even the slow motion replay failed to do it justice as Kanu met a wicked corner kick from Echegini with a feindish strike that smacked the unfortunate goal post before lodging at the back of the sour net.

2:0.

What to make of this outcome? The Super Falcons played like the debacle of the 2026 Wafcon never happened. They were focused, compacted and determined to get a positive outcome and they did.

Kudos to everyone involved!