Paris 2024: Justine Madugu unsatisfied over Nigeria’s performance against Ethiopia

By Wale Mustapha

Coach of Nigeria’s senior women’s national team, Justice Madugu has expressed displeasure about how his side fared in the first leg, second round qualifiers for the Paris 2024 Olympics after a 1-1 against Ethiopia on Wednesday.

Both teams squared up for the drab encounter that was decided at the Abebe Bekila Stadium in Addis Ababa.

The Lucy took a shocking lead inside opening six minutes as Birkie Amare scored from a corner kick and stand-in captain Rasheedat Ajibade’s screamer from the edge of the box restored parity for Nigeria seven minutes into restart.

The Falcons took full control of the match from then with the likes Ifeoma Onumonu and Asisat Oshoala failing to make good use of Nigeria’s scoring opportunities and Madugu who said it was not the result expected.

“It was a good game it wasn’t an easy match for us. It didn’t turnout as how we expected,” Madugu told nigeriafootball.ng in Addis Ababa.

“We made changes in the second half it brought some fresh legs we finish more accurately. We didn’t actually get what we want and we are not happy by that.”

Speaking about how the team will approach the second leg in Abuja, the Adamawa United coach assured Nigerians that the Super Falcons would get better and deliver the next ticket to the next round.

“Our intention was to win the game our plan was offensive play we couldn’t convert our chances before the next game we have to work on this.”

Both teams will clash again at the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja on Tuesday, with the winner on aggregate to proceed to the third round, where the winner of the Cameroon/Uganda fixture awaits.