The Super Falcons suffered a 4-0 defeat to World champions, the USA in a friendly match played on at the Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas, on Saturday, Sunday PUNCH reports.
The game was the first for the Falcons since they finished fourth at the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco in July.
The loss was their heaviest defeat under Randy Waldrum since he was appointed in 2020 and it also extended their winless run against USA to seven games.
The Falcons fielded a starting line-up that featured Chiamaka Nnadozie, Osinachi Ohale, Uchenna Kanu, Toni Payne, Rasheedat Ajibade, Michelle Alozie and Ifeoma Onumonu.
Among their ranks were also four members of the U-20 girls who reached the quarter-finals of the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup in Costa Rica last month.
They were without Ngozi Okobi-Okoeghene, Halimatu Ayinde and captain Onome Ebi.
Sophia Smith opened the scoring for the USA in the 14th minute before Lindsay Horan doubled the lead on 25 minutes.
Smith got her second of the game in 45+1 minute to make it 3-0.
The Super Falcons struggled to create any attacking threat in the first half as the USA went to the halftime break with a 3-0 lead.
In the second half, Alex Morgan completed in the 52nd minute the rout by converting from the penalty spot to end the tie 4-0.
That would be the final goal of the game as the Super Falcons defended well afterwards and created chances of their own with the USA goalkeeper denying Ifeanyi Onumonu and Michelle Alozie.
Alozie forced the USA goalkeeper to a wonderful save as the Falcons surged forward in search of a consolation goal.
Christy Ucheibe was stretchered off 10 minutes from the end of the game after a bad tackle to reduce the Falcons to 10 players on the field.
There was five minutes of additional time at the end of 90 minutes.
Alozie delivered another powerful shot before the end of the match but it was saved by the USA goalkeeper.
The Falcons were well beaten but they delivered an improved performance towards the end of the game that should give them some confidence heading into the next fixture.
After a disappointing defeat, the Falcons will aim to bounce back in the second friendly fixture scheduled to take place at Audi Field on Tuesday.
