Matchday! Super Falcons look to see off Comoros in Olympics qualifier
Nigeria’s Super Falcons expect to seal a place in the third of the five-round African qualification series for the 2028 Olympics Women’s Football Tournament when they confront Comoros senior women national team for the second time in four days on Tuesday.
Goals by defender Michelle Alozie and forward Uchenna Kanu earned the 10-time African champions a 2-0 win on Friday, leaving them with an advantage as they push for a second successive appearance at the Olympics, after participating at the Paris 2024 Games – their first in 16 years.
On Friday, interim Head Coach Augustine Eguavoen and his assistants opted to deploy Chiamaka Nnadozie in goal, with Glory Ogbonna and Michelle Alozie as wing-backs, and Christy Ucheibe and Shukurat Oladipo as centre-backs.
Debutant Joy Igbokwe, Toni Payne and Jennifer Echegini were in midfield and captain Rasheedat Ajibade, Gift Monday and Uchenna Kanu were at the fore.
On Tuesday, the coaching crew may decide to try youngster Christiana Uzoma in goal, with the likes of Farida Abdulwahab and Tumininu Adeshina also available for defensive duties.
Suliat Abideen was impressive when she came on in the second period on Friday, and could be given a starting role this time.
Former U17 team captain Shakirat Moshood and Folashade Ijamilusi are options at the fore, as well as Blessing Nkor and Blessing Okpe who both play in Belarus, and Sweden-based Joy Omewa.
Interim coach Augustine Eguavoen has urged the players to go for goals in the return leg.
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He said: “Football is a collective, not an individual sport. Congratulations to the entire team for the first-leg win. As we enjoy the two-goal advantage, we will also try as much as possible to win [the second leg].
“Maybe one, two or three, I am interested in goals, but the structure of the team comes first. Winning is still the key.”
The former Super Eagles defender also revealed plans to change tactics in the encounter.
Eguavoen concluded: “Crossing the line is more important. We will change some tactics a bit to make it easy for us.
“About 90 per cent of these players are playing in France, and they won 30-0 in their previous game. So, scary, but the first leg is gone, and we will try to make the game easy for our own good.”
The third-round fixture against Morocco will hold in March 2027.
