Super Falcons Edge Egypt in Erratic Manner To Clinch Quarter Final Ticket (6:2): Retrospective Reflection

It’s fair to say that the Super Falcons were underwhelming in patches during spells in this match, but the most important thing is that Madugu’s Ladies got the job done emphatically – the end, they say, justifies Madugu’s means.

Madugu can win the World Cup today, and his detractors will remain unsold, unconvinced, unimpressed – that’s how their cookies crumble. However, the victory yesterday and the nature of it had Madugu’s signature written all over it; hence the Adamawa state native deserves his onions, littered all over Suya meat and spice for good measure.

As a direct result of his tutelage, the Super Falcons at least have a chance to qualify for the World Cup via the inter-continental playoffs in case the unthinkable happens should we lose the quarter-final to arch-rivals Cameroon over the weekend.

Madugu detractors talked about “reliance on last-minute convoluted permutations” to qualify for the quarter-finals. For me, I blame CAF for that: their convoluted head-to-head qualification formula confused and complicated things. Had qualification from a group been based on simple “points accumulated” and “goals difference”, Nigeria would still have qualified, alongside Zambia – CAF just have to complicate things, which actually, on this occasion, hurt Zambia, who are on the way home despite scoring more goals than Malawi and actually defeating Malawi!

The Match

The Super Falcons started rather slowly, I must confess. Playing only 1 defensive midfielder in Abiodun in Madugu’s signature 4-3-3 formation almost proved costly in just the 1st minute as an Egyptian cutback from our left was met by a striker whose shot was smothered by Nnadozie – playing 1 defensive midfielder by Madugu wasn’t punished here but would be punished for Egypt’s second goal later on.

That said, Madugu’s shining light in this match was his in-game substitutions: Kanu, Omewa and Monday all had positive impacts, and all left a lasting impression. Also, starting Babajide proved to be a masterstroke, and starting Payne proved a treat as both players would leave positive imprints on the match with the former bagging the Player-of-the-Match award – deservedly so, Babajide’s best outing in Super Falcons colours for me as her grace, poise, and eloquence on grass shone through.

1 to 30 Minutes

The Super Falcons did not create many clear-cut scoring chances in the stanza. That said, Alozie overlapped and shot at the Egyptian keeper before Oshoala’s shot was hand-blocked in the 18-yard box for a penalty infraction that she converted in style for 1:0 in 18 minutes by sending the goalkeeper on a fishing expedition.

The Super Falcons seemed to toil and labour with minimal success.

Abiodun was breaking up play well; Ajibade and Oshoala were combining well; Ajibade’s effort was shot wide; Oshoala stole the ball, accelerated but lost the ball; Alozie and Payne interchanged passes effortlessly; and Babajide was poised, polished and progressive with her passes.

One bright spot in this stanza was that Babajide was growing into the match with neat passes, dangerous runs and pristine positioning.

30 to 60 Minutes

The Super Falcons tried to execute intricate and penetrative passing routines to mixed effect. However, Babajide’s masterclass and true colours were now shining through, brighter, as she continued taking the game by the scruff of its neck with effective take-ons that took out 3 Egyptian players in one fell swoop on one occasion and by shooting at goal from range, which the Egypt keeper parried. She would have her assist by cutting back, after taking out her marker with silky leg movement, to Substitute Monday for a delicate tap-in 2:0 in 45 minutes.

Egypt pulled 1 back shortly afterwards from the penalty spot after Alozie was adjudged to have fouled – 2:1. Payne had shot wide earlier from a good spot before Ajibade’s shot was saved. Ijamilusi did deliver a few decent cutbacks, but her overall contributions were forgettable and negligible. Payne was positive with her runs and take-ons, but Egypt stayed resolute.

Kanu would come in for Ijamilusi (whose grasp on future starting 11 spots is loosening fast) before making an immediate impact with a close-range, empty-net tap-in for 3:1 in 56 minutes after good work from Abiodun, Monday and Ajibade in the build-up.

60 to 90 Minutes plus time-added

Ajibade huffed and puffed up front with movements and passes that were curtailed. Alozie was busy in defence, blocking and clearing the ball. Ajibade would overcook a free-kick whilst Abiodun would balloon a shot to the heavens. Ucheibe would make it 4:1 from the penalty spot before Egypt’s Ghazi, taking advantage of Nigeria’s ineffective 1 defensive-midfielder infrastructure, received a cutback to crash our net: 4:2.

Ajibade extended the lead from another penalty that sent the goalkeeper fishing for crabs and lobsters: 5:2 in 91 minutes. Afterwards, Omewa added spice to the Jollof rice in 99 minutes to make it 6:2 with a tight finish that effectively sent Nigeria to the next round.

Oladipo was focused and joined the attack; Ohale was generally faultless; and Oshoala covered a lot of ground and provided an attacking outlet, whilst Nnadozie looked assured in her distribution and composed in her catches, though she was beaten hands down by the quality of Egypt’s second goal.

Stats-wise, Nigeria had 59% possession, took 25 shots, had 9 shots on target, created 6 big chances, achieved 76% pass accuracy (264/347), produced 36 touches in opposition 18 yard box, delivered 62% passes in the final third (90/145), and delivered 21 crosses with 8 accurate ones (38% accuracy) with an overwhelmingly positive score line that adequately prepares the team for knockout stage penalty kicks in how proficient the team took 3 penalties in this match.

These aren’t bad numbers - and show how prepared we are for knockout round penalties (something that should be reassuring) - but I doubt the stats will do enough to assuage the concerns of Madugu’s detractors – those who would never see anything good in what he is doing.

He did well in the match, and the stats backed it up; the scores spiced it up; the subs spruced it up!