Super Falcons head coach Randy Waldrum has singled out wastefulness in front of goal as the reason behind Nigeria’s defeat to Spain on Sunday, Soccernet.ng reports.
World champions Spain were the heavy favourites to claim a victory over the Super Falcons in Nantes but for 85 minutes the former African champions stood their ground.
However, a cross-shot via an Alexia Putella freekick evaded goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie and condemned Nigeria to a second consecutive 1-0 loss at the Olympics.
Interestingly before that Spanish sucker-punch, the Super Falcons had come close to taking the lead a couple of times but Rasheedat Ajibade and Asisat Oshoala were guilty of spurning the opportunities.
Even after Spain got the opener, Chinwendu Ihezuo still went one-on-one with Spain’s Cata Coll only for the Mexico-based forward to smash her shot at the shot-stopper.
However, coach Waldrum believes the game would have ended differently had Oshoala and Ajibade seized the chances they were presented with earlier in the game.
“We had three to four good opportunities,” Waldrum said, as per ESPN.
“Regrettably, we did not convert them. We had one in the first half, a breakaway, and Asisat and Rash missed those chances. Regrettably, the Spanish converted theirs.
“We lost to two of the best teams in the world,” Waldrum added. “Spain is the top team in the world and Brazil are in the top 10.
“We have shown that we could have got something out of those matches. It shows we can play against anybody in the world.”
Nigeria will face Japan on matchday three of the Paris Olympics on Wednesday, knowing that only a win can give them any chance of making it to the quarterfinals.
