Paris Olympics: Nigeria suffer second defeat as Spain edge out Super Falcons in pulsating encounter

• Despite the defeat, the nine-time African champions put up a brilliant display which saw them contain the world champions for 85 minutes before conceding a lone goal

Nigeria’s Super Falcons have lost their second game in ongoing 2024 Women’s Olympic Football Tournament.

They will be hoping to secure their first point of the tournament when they play Japan on Wednesday.

Despite the defeat, the nine-time African champions put up a brilliant display which saw them contain the world champions for 85 minutes before conceding a lone goal that handed the Europeans all the three points in Nantes on Sunday.

The Super Falcons would have got something out of the game if they weren’t wasteful in front of goal as players missed clear scoring opportunities to either put the African champion ahead or restore parity after Spain scored.

Captain Rasheedat Ajibade lost her footing when through on goal in the 36th minute, and substitute Chinwendu Ihezuo dil​ly​dal​ly too much deciding what to do with the ball when she had only the goalkeeper to beat in added time.

Spain dominated possession, expectedly, and only a brilliant and resolute defensive performance by the Falcons kept them at bay and restricted them to the odd-goal win.

For some parts of the game, the Falcons looked dangerous on the break, including in the 23rd minute when Esther Okoronkwo’s shot was pushed away by the goalkeeper when she latched on to a pass from Ajibade, and in the 65th minute when Ajibade lifted the ball a little too high when running into a backpass by Asisat Oshoala. Oshoala herself could have made hay with 18 minutes left, but she went to pass when it appeared easier to go for the kill.

Earlier in the second half, Salma Paralluelo had the ball in the net as she bundled past Nnadozie from a corner kick, but she was ruled offside.

With nine minutes to go, Osinachi Ohale cleared from the line as Alexia Putellas, who had been thwarted severally by Nnadozie, struck from just outside the box.

The winner came in the 85th minute, when the ubiquitous Putellas heaved the ball past Nnadozie straight from a free-kick on the left side of the Nigeria defence.

Defeat means the Falcons remain pointless in the tournament, and must achieve a win against Japan 2-1 winners against Brazil at the same venue on Wednesday to stand any chance of progressing to the quarter-finals