Coach Randy Waldrum has said the Super Falcons were simply unlucky not to have beaten South Africa by a bigger scoreline in the first leg of a Paris 2024 Olympics playoff today.
The Falcons scraped a slim 1-0 victory in Abuja and will be hard pressed to defend this lead in Pretoria.
“We were unfortunate not to get two, three goals,” he said.
“I think the defence stood strong even with new players.
“But again we have to finish our chances.
“(Chinwendu) Ihezuo was fantastic, she was the player of the match even if she didn’t score, her hold-up play was great, she has been playing well in Mexico this season, I think they were not prepared for her.”
Waldrum said star forward Asisat Oshoala was not ready to play after she reported very late in camp and would not say whether she will feature in the return leg.
He also said he will not be in Pretoria to defend the 1-0 advantage, but will go there to show “we are the better team again”.
Defensive midfielder Deborah Abiodun was forced out of the game by injury, but he assured she should be fine for the second leg in South Africa.