Nigeria vs Spain (0:2): Retrospective Reflection

It was always going to be an uphill task to either defeat or extract a point from Spectacular Spain and so it proved as Moses Aduku’s young ladies slumped to a 2:0 defeat today.

Playing a distinctive 4-2-3-1 formation in the first half, Nigeria looked somewhat organised out of possession whilst clueless in possession. The 3 offensive midfielders weren’t conversant with the requirements of their positions, as they often ran into a brick wall made in Spain, whilst lost on how to locate the lone centre forward, who was stranded and isolated like a kid mistakenly left home alone as her family flew out on holiday.

The stadium was scantily filled, which robbed the event of a lively, energetic atmosphere.

Nigeria’s fullbacks had a torrid time in the first half. With the formation narrow, neither of the 2 offensive players up front was wide enough to drop back, giving Spain ample real estate to launch crosses into Nigerian 18 yard box like sea-skimming missiles – one of which led to the early goal.

Our goalkeeper, Uzoma, looked competent enough. Though jittery at times, in the whole, she did a serviceable job in catching, punching, diving and intercepting, from often decent starting positions.

As you would expect, Nigeria were physical, and the defenders often came out early to intercept: when this worked, it was good; when it didn’t, we left gaping holes at the back, which Spain exploited emphatically for their second goal.

Coach Aduku could be seen physically animated on the sidelines. I think he should just let the girls play – it's hard enough for them to focus on their opponents whilst simultaneously trying to take instructions from their pissed-off-looking coach.

In the first half, Nigerian players looked naïve on the ball, lacking basic intellect in trapping the ball, moving and locating each other progressively and purposefully. But that had more to do with the 4-2-3-1 formation, with which they were most uncomfortable, unfamiliar and unattuned.

However, all that would change in the second half.

Realising that his fullbacks were being run ragged, Coach Aduku changed the formation to 4-4-1-1, introducing an out-and-out right winger, Oscar, for the stranded centre forward Olabiyi. On the left, Joseph was now moved further to the flank, where she came alive in this traditional formation.

Finally, it started to resemble more of a near-even contest as Nigeria were giving as much as they were getting from Spain.

Granted, Spain were still individually better technically and collectively better tactically than Nigeria; playing in a formation Nigerian girls were accustomed to meant Spanish defenders now had to work harder to defend their lead. Also, Spanish wingers – who hitherto had the keys to Nigeria’s flanks –  now started suffering as Nigerian wingers were now better placed to fall back and support the suffering fullbacks, effectively curtailing Spain’s forays down Nigeria’s flanks with formidable overloads.

Finally, individually brilliance from Nigeria was shining through as Oscar and Joseph sank their teeth into Spanish flanks, creating several opportunities that led to decent goal-bound efforts for Nigeria.

But it was not to be, as Spain ran away as worthy winners – 2:0.