Bring On Morocco, We Are Hot After Super Falcons’ 7-0 Win Over Comoros
Nigeria’s interim coach backs his team’s momentum ahead of the third round of the LA 2028 Olympic qualifiers, but confirms that captain Rasheedat Ajibade has been taken to hospital following an injury.
Super Falcons interim head coach Augustine Eguavoen has expressed confidence in Nigeria’s readiness for their next challenge after the team defeated Comoros 7-0 on aggregate to advance to the third round of the African qualifiers for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
Nigeria completed the second-round assignment with a commanding 5-0 victory in Tuesday’s return leg at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne, Ogun State, having won the first encounter 2-0 on Friday.
The result sets up a meeting with Morocco, who secured qualification for the third round following the withdrawal of the Republic of Congo from the competition.
Eguavoen: We Are Hot
Speaking after the victory over Comoros, Eguavoen expressed satisfaction with his players’ performance and acknowledged the improvement shown by their opponents in the return fixture.
“I’m impressed with the result today. The aggregate score is 7-0. Comoros improved in their performance after the first leg,” Eguavoen said.
The interim coach also admitted that he would have preferred to face Morocco immediately while the Super Falcons are enjoying their current momentum.
“We would have liked to play Morocco now because we are hot, but we cannot change the calendar,” he said.
Nigeria will, however, have to wait until February 2027 for the next stage of the competition.
The third round of the African qualifiers is scheduled to take place between February 23 and March 6, 2027, with 16 teams competing for eight places in the fourth round.
Ajibade Taken to Hospital After Injury
Eguavoen also provided an update on captain Rasheedat Ajibade, who was stretchered off in the 22nd minute of the match after sustaining an injury.
The coach confirmed that the forward had been taken to hospital for medical assessment, with the team awaiting further information on the severity of the injury.
“She has been taken to the hospital. The medical team will give an update on the injury later,” he said.
Ajibade’s condition will be closely monitored, with her fitness potentially significant to Nigeria’s preparations for the encounter against Morocco.
Finishing, Tactical Organisation Remain Priorities
Despite the emphatic victory, Eguavoen identified finishing and tactical organisation as areas requiring further attention as Nigeria prepare for a considerably tougher challenge.
The coach said the technical crew would work on improving the conversion of scoring opportunities and explore tactical formations to give the team greater flexibility.
“We will work on the conversion of chances and make the team more organised, whether with a 4-1-4-1 or 3-5-2 setup,” he stated.
Nigeria’s five-goal haul in the second leg featured braces from Toni Payne and Uchenna Kanu, while Christy Ucheibe converted a penalty to complete the scoring.
The two victories over Comoros also provided Eguavoen with an opportunity to assess his options and build greater depth within the squad.
Eguavoen Explains Decisions on Unused Players
The interim coach also addressed concerns surrounding players who did not feature in either leg of the second-round tie, insisting that they remain part of his plans.
Eguavoen said he had spoken with the affected players and explained their importance to the team’s broader objectives.
“I have explained to them that they are part of the team, although I don’t owe them an explanation. We want to have as many as 50 players to build a strong team,” he said.
He also expressed satisfaction with Okpe’s performance, despite the player receiving a late invitation to the squad.
The comments underline the technical crew’s intention to widen the pool of players available as Nigeria pursue qualification for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
Morocco Present a Different Challenge
The forthcoming encounter with Morocco is expected to provide a more demanding examination of the Super Falcons’ progress.
The North Africans advanced directly to the third round after the Republic of Congo withdrew from the qualifying competition.
Morocco will be particularly familiar opponents for Nigeria, having faced the Super Falcons in the final of the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, where Nigeria secured a 3-2 victory to claim the continental title.
The next meeting will carry a different significance, with both teams seeking to progress towards one of Africa’s two available places in the women’s football tournament at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
For Eguavoen, the immediate priorities are maintaining Nigeria’s attacking momentum, improving tactical discipline and monitoring Ajibade’s condition.
The Super Falcons have completed the second round in emphatic fashion. Their next assignment against Morocco will offer a clearer indication of their readiness for the remaining stages of the Olympic qualifying campaign.
