Women’s World Cup: Fans praise Super Falcons despite defeat to England
Nigerian fans have taken to social media to praise the Super Falcons after their 4-2 penalty shootout loss to England in their 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup round of 16 clash in Brisbane on Monday.
Randy Waldrum’s ladies had the better chances but were not able to convert them even with England having star forward Lauren James sent off for a stamp on Michelle Alozie. The game ended goalless after 120 minutes of action. The Falcons were however let down by misses from Desire Oparanozie and Alozie in the shootout while England missed only one.
Nigeria were denied a chance to reach the quarter-finals for only the second time and first time in 24 years. They have nonetheless received a lot of admiration from fans who took to Twitter to hail them for their composure and mentality during this World Cup where they have also faced the likes of top-ranked Australia and Canada and managed to avoid defeat in them.
Desire should not have gone first sha. They really played good football and I am proud of this team. #ENGNGA
— B🃏 (@shacsmith) August 7, 2023
Took England to penalties, defense on lock no be small thing, we proved all the critics wrong no cap.
England can’t open their mouth and say they played football today 😂#ENGNGA 🇳🇬🇳🇬❤️
— Director. Bello (@Director_bello) August 7, 2023
This performance by the Super Falcons deserves a standing ovation… We did great! #ENGNGA @NGSuper_Falcons #FIFAWomensWorldCup2023
— your fav event planner (@lindaNjoku2) August 7, 2023
Football is crazy. One moment you are praising a player, the next moment, you are Criticising them. Heads up to Alozie and the super falcons squad. They were great today.#FIFAWomensWorldCup2023 #ENGNGA
— SoyoufoundDidi🇳🇬💎🦋⚡ (@Nwachukwu2121) August 7, 2023
Bit sad for the girls to be out like this. We should have won 😭😭😭 but ultimately the lack of basics in our forward play showed. Too many unforced errors, misplaced passes, shooting accuracy.
Defence was solid and Nnadozie deserves all her flowers 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 #ENGNGA #FIFAWWC
— SünehriLasgidi (@TheFloWilliams) August 7, 2023
I am proud of the super falcons. Great game , you gave your best.
Congratulations to England #ENGNGA— Daniel David (@Doubledavid36) August 7, 2023
We were supposed to win 😪 #ENGNGA
— Leonard (@burninhelljack) August 7, 2023
I swear this lost pain me, i just dey foam hard guy may i no cry.
Our ladies served the win for their hardwork and tremendous discipline #ENGNGA— Osabiya Oriola Benjamin (@tha_deepguy) August 7, 2023
Well done Super Falcons!!✨
You all did well.✨
Nigeria is proud of you ✨#SoarSuperFalcons #ENGNGA #FIFAWomensWorldCup #FIFAWWC #BeyondGreatness pic.twitter.com/MLhvM2jMbK— Bashir Ọlánrewájú Ayanda (@AyandaBashir) August 7, 2023
Well done Falcons 💪. We could have won it when no one gave us a chance but we won’t be forgotten now.
Keep your head up. #ENGNGA
— grandpa (@Neroxander) August 7, 2023
This match pain me sha #ENGNGA
— Leonard (@burninhelljack) August 7, 2023
POV: “Ah…. The girls tried o. They really tried but were unlucky”
Me: Where’s the evidence? We go explain tire 😂🤭
— Darasimi💘 (@Pamzie_10) August 7, 2023
I watched these ladies match for the first time in this tournament, but their fierceness, dedication and fighting spirit are one of the best I have seen these daysThey played as if they had extra lifes. Well done guyz, Thank you for reping us Oparanozie, #ENGNGA Oshoala, Racism pic.twitter.com/e9eYdAN8Oj
— Waheed Basit Adebayo (@basitdebayo) August 7, 2023
I'm really hurt
The ladies gave everything
Well done Super Falcons #ENGNGA #FIFAWomensWorldCup2023 #FIFAWWC— Babatunde Micheal (@Olamykey) August 7, 2023
The #ENGNGA game says we should believe more in ourselves and #Nigerians we need to take full advantages of all of our potentials.
Thank you #SuperFalcons.
Come back to #FIFAWomensWorldCup stronger and better in 2027.— jide•yusuf (@jideyusuf) August 7, 2023
I hate match like this😔. The Falcons really tried❤️❤️ #ENGNGA #Laurenjames #alozie
— DTOOTHNURSE (@Hormobolanle4) August 7, 2023
Na watin Lauren James wan recreate be this but she went extreme 😭😭😭😭#FIFAWWC #ENGNGA pic.twitter.com/ZXiM30KJca
— ∂αянυ∂ нαяεүмυ (@dhareymu) August 7, 2023
Nigeria should have qualified. The game should not have been decided by penalties.
Nigeria penalties takers were too poor. Put it on target and forget the rest.Oparanozie should just retire from the national team.
I don explain tire , no evidence.#ENGNGA
— Samuel Olufemi (@o_teesamuel) August 7, 2023
The penalty taking arrangement was just not right from start
It's should have been Oshoala, Ajibade, Plumptre, and then the rest follow… 😭#ENGNGA
— 𝘾𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙢𝙚 𝙎𝙤𝙡𝙤𝙝𝙩𝙤𝙡𝙯 🇬🇧🇳🇬 (@Solohtolz) August 7, 2023
This is such a disappointing loss, especially with the plethora of missed chances.
However, we are proud of you girls, you gave it your all. Up Super Faocons! #ENGNGA— Idu Kings (@KingsIdu_) August 7, 2023
You gave us hope, we thank you #ENGNGA pic.twitter.com/83PCcqyVw0
— The Labi (@_Isaaclabi) August 7, 2023
Ashleigh was solid and good aerially!! She won almost all the aerial balls! I am proud of you!! #FIFAWomensWorldCup2023 #SuperFalcons #ENGNGA
— Dafe! (@Pi_Daf) August 7, 2023
Shoutout to Our Super Falcons 4 their amazing performance at the World Cup
They were absolutely clinical & beautiful to watch
Their performances brought the nation together and we are all so proud of them
It was truly inspiring to see them play with such passion and skill#ENGNGA pic.twitter.com/L4K8xHNpFk— Alabi Opeyemi Oladimeji (@alabiopeyemiola) August 7, 2023
They played well. They tried. Praise them. It's not easy. In retrospect, we will all agree that they could have done better. This was a missed chance. Scored in one game out of four. #ENGNGA
— Adébọ́lá (@Bkoy__) August 7, 2023
I'm in pains…#ENGNGA pic.twitter.com/pSsk0gTCRR
— dev!flex (@flexy_akin) August 7, 2023
#ENGNGA lets move on quickly as we take the positives from this tournament.
* No team is unbeatable/playable
*We didnt really much on Assisat oshoala.
*Scouts definitely came to watch so better teams for the girls (hopefully)
*African women teams are on the rise>>>>>— Alubarika 🎹 🇳🇬 (@ADEBOWALE____) August 7, 2023
Sigh. I’m actually heartbroken.
How will the girls feel 🤦🏾♀️#ENGNGA #SoarSuperFalcons pic.twitter.com/2wjC4j30FR— POWERHOUSE (@mofiiyiin) August 7, 2023
This game pain me o. Ah! 🥲#ENGNGA#FIFAWWC#FIFAWomensWorldCup2023
— Abayomi Oyelami (@yomioyelami) August 7, 2023
I'm so proud of this Alozie girl, beautify and bravery join together. #ENGNGA pic.twitter.com/45Mt5zizce
— 👑 (@KennethOgwo) August 7, 2023
Make I go chop before I faint the real fainting 😂🏃🏃
Beta headache the worry me after all my shout 😭😭🥲🥲E pain me sha ooo
But we move💃💃💃#ENGNGA #Falcons #FIFAWWC— Marisa_ (@StellamarisOloh) August 7, 2023
Good outing! 👏DO BETTER NEXT TIME! We can't be the perpetual African champions but yet consistent fail to make it to the Quarter Finals at the world stage. #ENGNGA #SuperFalcons #FIFAWomensWorldCup #FIFAWomensWorldCup2023 https://t.co/c25oSONuxl
— Táíwò I. Ọlátúnjí (@Olagospel) August 7, 2023
Welp.
We gave it our all defensively. Can't say much for our creativity and attacking play. Weldone girls.P.S: Make nobody compare these crop of attackers (cue Oshoala, Oparanozie, Ordega) to Nkwocha or Akide ever again.#ENGNGA
— Timothy O. Xavier (@TimmieEx) August 7, 2023
Our guys really did well and made us proud as usual 👏 #ENGNGA
Well done ladies 🙌♥️— GA.M.E (@Muideen_ganiyat) August 7, 2023
Damn! This one hit hard.
Very painful 😥😥Proud of the girls regardless 💪🏽🇳🇬#ENGNGA
— RealFemi (@Phemmites) August 7, 2023
Nigerians and mediocrity.
Underdog is a status not a mindset. Nigeria had an advantage for 30 minutes plus. The coach couldn't help the team maximise it yet all I see everywhere is great work super falcons. They lost! #FIFAWomensWorldCup2023 #ENGNGA— DOCTOR FRICK (@doctorfrick) August 7, 2023
APPRECIATION MESSAGE !!
Thank you !!
NNADOZIE 3 clean sheets
That is my #MOTM #ENGNGA #FIFAWomensWorldCup pic.twitter.com/ov8SHvc60V
— Abdulraheem Lawal (@babslaw96) August 7, 2023
We played so well and we should have just killed that game but our coach said not today!! He asked the girls to start playing aimless long balls after Lauren’s red card!! Well,Kudo to the whole team,Penalty is a game of luck and we’re just unlucky today. We move! #ENGNGA
— OBIdientFavouriteSugarBoy🌹 (@EgenusD) August 7, 2023