Paris 2024: Justin Madugu reflects on uneasy Nigeria clash with Ethiopia

By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde

Justin Madugu who was in charge of Nigeria’s senior women’s national team 1-1 draw with Ethiopia in the Second Round of Paris 2024 Olympics Qualifiers had admitted that the first leg of the encounter was not an easy one.

The Super Falcons had to come from a goal down after Birkie Amare’s opener in the fifth minute of play after she capitalised on a goalmouth scramble.

Rasheedat Ajibade’s half volley in the edge of the box which beat Tariqua Bergena in goal for the Lucy in the 52nd minute saved the nine-time African champions’ blushes.

Nigeria couldn’t win their first game after the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup ouster which Madugu thinks can be corrected in the return leg when Ethiopia visits Nigeria on October 31, 2023.

“Well, like you all watched the game, it was a good game.
And, it was not an easy game for us, because, the Ethiopian girls also put in their best to try and ensure that they got something out of the game in that we had our challenges,” Madugu said during his post-match reaction.

“And then, we tried as much as possible to get ourselves together so that we came with the aim of winning but eventually it didn’t turn out the way we had expected.

“However, we still have the second leg to play and whatever lapses we may have noticed in today’s game, we will do our best to ensure that we correct that before the next game.”

Nigeria had Ifeoma Onumonu’s headed goal ruled out for offside as they settled for a share of the spoils with a team ranked 124th in the world and the stand-in manager insists they could have done better in the final third.

“Like I said earlier our intention was to ensure that we win the game and like you rightly observed,” he continued.

“Our game plan was hinged around offensive play but eventually, we couldn’t get some of our acts right, especially in the attacking third. We couldn’t get our passes accurately and that accounted for why we couldn’t convert some of the chances that came our way.

“These are some of the lapses I was talking about that we may have noticed. And, we will need to work on to ensure that we collect and perfect that before the next game.”

The Super Falcons were a goal down early in the contest before the introduction of four players in the second half to change the tide of the game, with Rinsola Babajide, Rofiat Imuran, Ifeoma Onumonu, and Opeyemi Ajakaye replaced Uchenna Kanu, Nicole Payne, Gift Monday, and Asisat Oshoala.

“We made changes we made changes in the second half that brought in some fresh blood in the team, and you could see that helped us to also sustain the pressure on the opposition,” he added.

“But, like I said, we really need to get our acts right in the attack to ensure that we finish more accurately.

“Well, as far as our expectations are concerned, when you go in for every game, you always plan to ensure that you win. But that you have planned to win does not mean it must turn out the way you have planned it. The result could be a win for you.

“You could also end in a draw at the same time, you equally stand the chance of losing if things do not also go your way. So that we didn’t actually get what we wanted we are not too happy about that. We really need to correct that and ensure that in the next game, we get exactly what we truly deserve.

“Like you asked about the officiating you could see you know, it’s not for us to begin to question the authority of the match officials. Whoever does well, the crowd is there to judge. If we do not do well, all of us can see that, maybe things didn’t turn out the way everybody would expect.

“I wouldn’t want to be dragged into the issue of making comments regarding the nature of the officiating.
But everybody saw what transpired on the field of play.”

This was the second time both sides will be meeting in 11 years after Nigeria beat Ethiopia 3-0 in the group stage of the 2012 Women’s African Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Equatorial Guinea.

Both teams will clash in the reverse fixture at the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja, on Tuesday, October 31.

The overall winner will face Cameroon or Uganda in the third round.