Nigeria vs Japan: 1-3 ; Retrospective Review and Ratings

Player Ratings

The Super Falcons, in truth, put up a tepid display in the earlier part of the first half against Japan yesterday. By the time they upped their game, the mountain was way too high for them to climb.

They actually looked deflated to me.

Hamano stole behind Okeke to stab home in 22 minutes  before Tanaka scrambled to make 2:0 ten minutes later for Japan after being better positioned and reacting quicker than Demehin inside Nigeria's 18 yard box.

After the second goal, the Super Falcons then remembered where they were and why they were there for Echegini to connected beautifully with a pitch-perfect pass from Ucheibe to let fly for 2:1 in 41 minutes.

However Kitagawa put the nail in the coffin with a fabulous freekick from range to end the game 3:1 and end Nigeria's faint hopes of getting anything out of the match.

My Ratings:

1) Nnadozie: When she was afforded competent protection from her outfield colleagues, she produced decent saves and she was always well positioned. All the goals against her were well worked with none of her defensive colleagues jumping for the free-kick of the last goal.

I found her performance acceptable even though I think she could improve her distribution at times. 5/10

2) Ohale: She produced a number of misplaced passes and she was in thick of the second goal conceded  haven been beaten aerially in the build-up. She tried to instigate attacking initiatives with passes that ultimately led nowhere.

Her culpability for the second goal shocked me. I thought her overall display was underwhelming on the night. 4.5/10

3) Demehin: Her penchant for needless tackles  reared its head for her foul for the final Japan goal. She was involved in the scrum for the second goal. Some of her long balls failed to reach intended targets. She did perform well in some of her defensive duties.

I don't think she jumped in the wall for the 3rd goal. Her performance to me was slightly subpar.

4) Okeke: She lost the striker for Japan's first goal and the cross for the second goal came from her side. She did misplace some passes too. That said, she performed well in some tackles and interceptions.

I was unimpressed when she let the scorer stole behind her for the goal. It was a performance that slightly harmed her left back credential. She was hurled off in the second half. 4/10

5) Alozie: She combined well with Ucheibe and Payne to produce a neat passing interplay. Her throw-ins were at times wayward whilst some passes were misplaced. She was beaten in 1v1s before the Japanese winger delivered crosses at least twice and the opening goal was due her losing the striker. She was busy up front with decent runs and crosses which were often blocked.

I was not best pleased seeing her being dribbled and crosses delivered from her area. I found her attacking forays less effective than her social media dance routine montages. 4/10

6) Ucheibe: She wasn't able to help Nigeria stem the tide of Japanese attacks from the midfield. Apart from the eloquent give-and-go with Echegini for Nigeria's only goal, her other passes weren't entirely imaginative. She even struggled to shake off Japanese players when they swarmed her.

It wasn't a dominant midfield display from Ucheibe but her assist for the goal did raise my spirit. 5/10

7) Abiodun: She was again busy with tackling and interceptions that worked for most parts. I noticed 2 misplaced passes from her. In fact, when Nigeria needed goals to get back into the game, Abiodun wasn't able to help press this issue.

I will always applaud Abiodun for her defensive application but I found her contributions negligible in helping to carve out scoring chances even from deep midfield. 5/10

8) Payne: She was lively somewhat in her movements. She was instrumental in winning the ball for the sequence of Nigeria's goal. She supported the defence when required.  And she tried to combine well with others in passing passages. She also tried to launch some neat shots.

I found Payne fluid and lively on the night but it wasn't enough for the team to drive success. 5/10

9) Oshoala: She looked quite marginalized and well marked and well curtailed. She wasn't able to connect with passes and she wasn't able to use her profile to rouse the team from its slumber earlier on. 

I didn't see enough of Oshoala to be invested in what she was trying to do. 4.5/10

10) Ajibade: Her crosses were often blocked and her dribbles were often unsuccessful. She wasn't able to get into promising positions and she struggled overall to outfox and outmanoeuvre her markers.

I think Ajibade wasn't able to sync her movements with the requirements of the formation on the night. It was a laboured display and quite cumbersome to watch. 4.5/10

11) Echegini: Apart from her goal, I think she struggled to really impose herself on the midfield. The technique applied to her shot was utter brilliance (I wished Iheuzo and Ajibade had applied similar compelling technique in the prior 2 games).

I thank Echegini for the goal but she still looks wafer thin lightweight in midfield for Nigeria. Perhaps we deploy her as a support striker. 5/10

SUBSTITUTES

NICOLE PAYNE: She combined well with her colleagues to produce neat passing exchanges. She looked fluid and always willing to latch on to passes. 5/10

CHIWENDU IHEZUO: She was full of movement, always trying to find an opportunity to pounce but the opportunities never presented themselves as glorious as the ones she had against Spain and Brazil. 4/10

ESTHER OKORONKWO: She huffed and puffed but the game was already lost at that time. 4/10

UCHENNA KANU: Her impact was negligible. Not Rated