Afrigather The previous African champions couldn’t muster a win over the 124th-ranked Ethiopians
Tremendous Falcons stand-in coach Justin Madugu has admitted that Ethiopia have been a tough opponent for Nigeria to beat on Wednesday, Soccernet.ng experiences.
Tremendous Falcons, Africa’s number-one ranked workforce, stumbled to a 1-1 with Ethiopia on the Abebe Bikila Stadium in Addis Ababa within the first leg of their 2024 Olympic Video games qualifiers.
Birkie Amare gave the hosts the lead within the sixth minute after she capitalised on a goalmouth scramble.
Rasheedat Ajibade equalised for the Tremendous Falcons shortly after the halftime break with a wonderful volley.
The nine-time African champions had one other purpose dominated out for offside as they settled for a share of the spoils with a workforce ranked 124th on the planet.
Tremendous Falcons head coach Randy Waldrum didn’t take cost of the match, as he was unavailable on account of private commitments in the USA.
In his place, one in all his assistants, Justin Madugu, led the teaching crew to sit down within the dugout because the Falcons struggled to get the higher of the Lucy of Ethiopia.
After the encounter, Madugu confessed that the sport was not a stroll within the Park for Nigeria as Ethiopia have been eager to keep away from defeat.
The previous Adamawa United chief coach, nevertheless, vowed that the Tremendous Falcons will overcome the East Africans within the return leg on Sunday.
“It wasn’t a simple sport as a result of the Ethiopians additionally ensured they acquired one thing from the sport,” Madugu mentioned.
“We got here with the goal of profitable, however it didn’t come out as anticipated. We are going to guarantee we get a greater end result at dwelling.”
Head coach Waldrum is predicted to return to information the Tremendous Falcons for the second-leg fixture towards Ethiopia on Sunday.
The American gaffer led Nigeria to achieve the knockout spherical of the 2023 FIFA World Cup, with the workforce dropping not one of the matches performed in regulation time.
