₦airaland Forum

First set piece for Norway, first goal. Gosh I hate to be right about this. Standing like mannequins.

The shape of the Super falcons is impressive on and off the ball. Long time I saw a Nigerian team this organised.

NFF president in attendance with FIFA president. Nigerian supporters club not so loud. Hardly seen.

Players filing out now. Oparanozie looks business like. No unneccesary singing. Just focused.

Schemerkhiz:
I wasn't expecting to see a 4 - 3 - 3

It is not a 4-3-3. It is actually a 3-5-2. They will play 3-5-2 when we're on the backfoot, and I believe the shape will change to 4-3-3 when we attacking. Should be fun.

I am watching on Canadian TV and they are already calling for red card for Nigerian players due to our 'physicallity'. I think the women footballers are usually racist and gang up against those stronger than them. Same way Semanya was deemed too strong.

Typical African indiscipline killed SA.
Nigeria with her strong line up as expected. Attacking wise, we look good. Defensively, we're suspect.

Really pray SA will hold on.....it will be massive confidence booster

Today's match will be won or lost by collective team play. I am almost certain that we havent learnt much from defending set pieces, and if the Norwageans do not find a way in open play, they will hurt us at set pieces. Sommething tells me Oluehi will fumble a cross or something.

Up front, we have standard strikers, and the only problem is how Okobi (or Ajibade) locates them. Overall, it should be an intriguing match, and Norway will be surprised by the way we play. Also, I think Dennerby might be surprised that the girls will throw his tactics at him if we're losing and need to attack. Dennerby will ordinarily set us up to be on the backfoot and use counter attack. This is Oshoala's strength, but Nigerians dont like to sit back. Lets see how far our discipline has come.
I'm not a betting person, but I am almost certain Norway will score from a set piece.

3-0 at half time. 2 goals from set pieces as expected. Teams with poor defensive organisations will be exposed at set pieces.

Korea playing a solid 4-4-2 but they are being overrun in midfield. Our 3-5-2 will either contain them or expose our backline.

France 2-0. Korean defence all over the place. I now fancy our chances against them. We should beat them. VAR says no. back to 1-0.

Press conference prematch.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IyjpgTNlem4

Google celebrating WWC start. Ordega featuring again.

Womens world cup starts today!!! I am quite happy and buzzing for it.

In few hours, France will play South Korea. While most people are expecting an easy win for France, I fear they may become complacent. I hope VAR works well to reduce racist officiating that Nigeria had to endure for years. I will be at an official meeting by the time France kicks off, but 'll be watching every action online. May the best team win.

As for Dennerby, lighten up man and put a surprising and interesting team out tomorrow. Time to believe!

elyte89:
Africans and set piece awful defending like 5$6


What baffles me most is dt ,dey play and train with deir colleagues,yet dey re still poor,is it dt when dey abt having special drills for set piece, d clubs excuse African players?

It's all about team discipline. Set piece is the time the whole team should be on same page. As Africans we know we like flare and are undisciplined. Even Cameroon played so well in their friendly with Spain but every set piece was a mess. Either keeper comes out too early and misses, or players lose concentration and don't track their opponents.
I think zonal marking will be easier for Africans as the don't have to worry about tracking players. All they need is to control the some the coach puts them.
If we don't concede from our first set piece tomorrow I'll be really happy.

BascoVanVeli:
If we can defend our set pieces I am sure we will have a good tournament.

Every set pieces, my heart will be going gbim gbim gbim.

Referee watch. An Australian will be in charge of our match with plenty VAR officials. She was top referee in Australia and hopefully she's going to be professional.

BascoVanVeli:
I agree but the coach would have made things better by making a firm singular decision from the beginning.

I think the spirit in the team is now high. Remember Nwabuoku was captain over Onome in 2016.

BascoVanVeli:
Onome Ebi is the older player and she also is the better player. Bench Chikwelu and give the legend her band simple as that. First African player to play 5 world cup and not the captain?

If not give Oshoala the band so they can all rest.

These things are more complicated than you think. Look at Mikel vs Musa for eagles too.
I just wish the team all the best..

Schemerkhiz:
Desire Oparanozie.......Captain
Asisat Oshoala.......Assistant Captain

What happened to the elders in the Squad...? No Leadership qualities or what has Dennerby seen in this two that he want to utilize in favour of the Team...any View.

2003 Set
Onome Ebi
Faith Ikidi

2007 Set
Rita Chikwelu
Tochukwu Oluehi
Oghonna Chukwudi.

2010Set
Osinachi Ohale.

I think this is to quell any bad blood in the team. Obviously the so called old players have not been able to agree on captain, and captaincy is not by age actually. It is by leadership on and off the pitch. Maybe Dennerby has seen that Oparanozie and Oshoala have shown good team spirit and always put teams first.

Good to see the team has settled in in Reims. Had light training this morning according to Ann Odong, @fifawwc_nga. She is really on her game when it comes to updating about Super Falcons in France. Give her a follow.

Also, I think it is shameful that NFF employed Jane Nweze as team spox and reporter, but she is not doing her job well at all. This team deserves a media savvy, enthusiastic person as spox. It is a shame that all of NFF's appointed team media officers are just there by name. You only see them at press conferences.

Go Super falcons.

Super falcons pre-world cup preparation since January 2019. Played 14, won 10, lost 4.
Biggest lost margin 3-0, to China in Dennerby's first game against strong opposition. I watched that match and the scoreline flatters China. We played well, without key players like Oshoala .
2nd 3-0 margin was from 1st match of Cyprus cup. We got a red card early in the game and the team basically fell. Still the girls created plenty of chances upfront, with Oshoala missing much.
Next losses after that period was 1-0 to Belgium. Tight game. Then 2-1 to Canada. Another tight game we lost concentration in 2nd half.

Others were wins against smaller sides..We beat Thailand, Slovakia and Romania. I think the team has moved forward a lot from the 3-0 loss to China.

The team's itinerary is that they arrive France today and head straight to Reims where they will lodge till they play Norway on Saturday.
I hope NFF gets the logistics right and the ladies have time to rest and get used to French weather. The weather should be OK and above 20 for most of the month, so no problem.

My opening match preview:
France vs South Korea: Cagey match and if France 98 is anything to go by, then I think this might end in a draw. France also has injury to about FIVE key players, who are expected to be fit in time to play Norway. I will go for a draw or a low scoring win.

Nigeria vs Norway: This match will be very open, and Nigeria will be the team on the backfoot for most of the match due to Dennerby's fears. This game will probably see at least 3 goals before half time. Almost certain that Nigeria will concede a set piece goal. My heart says 3-2 Nigeria win, my head says 3-1 Norway win. Norway will ONLY win if Dennerby continues to put organisation above attacking play. We need the balance and I hope he realises it. This is where foreign coaches become a problem, because they dont believe in us as much as we believe in ourselves. They are realistic with expectations, while we are always expecting to win. Our last WWC win was in 2011 against Canada.

elyte89:
U can't bench a team captain

Thank you! More so, Oparanozie is no pushover. She will work defenders and wear them down while Kanu is a good impact sub.

Dedetwo:
This teams looks like Nigerian male U20 team currently vying for exit from FIFA tournament.

NO sir. This team is the most successful Nigerian team today. Even in the face of adversity, they always turn up.

isan:
in Canada 2015 nigeria conceded 6 goals 5 was from set pieces

Even against Canada, 2 set pieces in 2nd half, 2 goals. It is a big problem.

6-2. Another goal from SA counter attack. Oshoala will be rubbing her palms with these Norwagean wing backs. Lacking pace and cant tackle.
Katlana uses pace, gets inside box, squares ball, goal.

Set pieces are their strong points. Typical Africans fumbling at set pieces.

Now 5-1, as soon as I saw the Norwagean high press, I knew they will chop goals. I am actually now very happy to play them with Oshoala, Ordega and Oparanozie up front. Let them try high press with us.

As I was typing, it became 6-1

2nd half underway. I doubt Norway will up the tempo. I think this Norway team is very good o. We need maximum strength and luck to beat them.

isan:
Norway walking over south Africa

43 minute -

south Africa 0 - 5 Norway

Fire on the mountain ooo.

I will love to watch Norway's friendly vs South Africa tonight. They play in about 30 minutes. Hopefully that can help gauge how far Norway has prepared. I wont be surprised if they beat SA due to their strength.