Super Falcons: 2 selection decisions Eguavoen must get right in the Olympic qualifiers

The Super Falcons of Nigeria have one foot in the next round of the 2028 Olympic qualifiers after beating Comoros 2-0 in the first leg, but interim coach Augustine Eguavoen must get two important selection decisions right.

Michelle Alozie opened the scoring three minutes after half-time before Uchenna Kanu doubled Nigeria’s advantage in the 60th minute, giving the 10-time African champions a two-goal cushion ahead of Tuesday’s return fixture at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne-Remo.

Although the result puts Nigeria in a strong position, their first-half performance exposed a familiar woe. The Super Falcons had to wait until after the interval to break down a Comoros side that sat deep.

Eguavoen also began his interim tenure without several experienced players, including Asisat Oshoala, Ashley Plumptre and Oluwatosin Demehin.

The coach backed their replacements before the first leg, but the return fixture will provide another opportunity to assess whether his selections can deliver both defensive security and greater attacking efficiency.

Nigeria are chasing a second consecutive appearance at the Olympic women’s football tournament after returning to the competition at Paris 2024 following a 16-year absence.

2 Super Falcons selection decisions Eguavoen must get right

1. Eguavoen must settle his defensive partnership

The absence of experienced defenders has made defensive selection one of Eguavoen’s biggest challenges during the Olympic qualifying campaign.

Plumptre withdrew after suffering a ligament injury, while Demehin was unavailable because of residency permit issues. Nigeria also no longer have Osinachi Ohale, who retired from international football.

Those absences leave Eguavoen with fewer established options as he attempts to build a reliable defensive unit. Glory Ogbonna stepped into the heart of the defence against Comoros, but the coach must decide which partnership offers the best balance of experience, positioning and composure.

The return leg is an opportunity to build consistency rather than make unnecessary changes. If the available defenders performed their responsibilities well in the opening fixture, retaining the same central pairing could help them develop an understanding.

However, Nigeria must also avoid allowing the two-goal advantage to encourage complacency. Comoros will need to attack if they are to turn the tie around, and that could leave spaces for the Super Falcons to exploit while also testing their defensive organisation.

With a potential third-round meeting against Morocco or the Democratic Republic of Congo awaiting the aggregate winners, the defensive structure needs to be more than a short-term solution.

2. Echegini and Kanu pairing in attack

Nigeria’s second selection decision concerns how to make their attacking play more effective.

The first leg showed that the Super Falcons can create opportunities, but they struggled to convert their dominance into goals. Rasheedat Ajibade hit the crossbar in the first half, while other promising moves failed to produce the breakthrough.

The difference in the second half was efficiency. Alozie capitalised on a close-range opportunity before Kanu headed home from Jennifer Echegini’s delivery to make it 2-0.

Echegini’s influence is key. The Paris Saint-Germain midfielder helped Nigeria progress attacks and supplied the delivery for Kanu’s goal. Her ability to connect midfield with the forwards will be valuable against opponents who defend in a compact shape.

Kanu was simply brilliant. The Cruz Azul forward offered movement and a threat in the penalty area, eventually getting the goal her performance deserved.

Eguavoen must decide how best to combine those qualities with Ajibade’s leadership and the options available elsewhere in attack. The objective should not be to select the biggest names, but to build a forward line that can create chances and score goals.

Gift Monday is another option, while Janet Akekoromewie, tipped to be the next Oshoala, brings a lot of promise and hunger to perform.

Can the Super Falcons finish the job?

The first-leg victory has put Nigeria in a favourable position, but progress to the next round has yet to be guaranteed. Eguavoen must use the return fixture to establish a dependable defensive unit and refine the attack to be efficient.

Nigeria’s next task is to complete the job against Comoros next Tuesday. The bigger challenge is building a team capable of navigating the remaining rounds and securing one of Africa’s two places at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.