Summer Series: Nigeria bows to Jamaica as US humble Portugal

Expectedly, Nigeria began her campaign in the Four-nation invitational tournament tagged Summer Series in the United States (US) on losing note as Deneisha Blackwood’s second half strike gave Jamaica a lone goal victory over the African champions at BBVA Stadium in Houston on Thursday.

In the second game of the day at the same venue, host country, US beat Portugal 1-0 courtesy of 76th minute goal scored by Samantha Mewis.

Blackwood’s 51st min. goal was enough to condemn Super Falcons to their first defeat under the new Head Coach Randy Waldrum, an American soccer tactician who took charge of the team in February’s Turkey invitational tournament. He won three matches on the bounce.

Nigeria’s gaffer who did not have the best of preparations prior to the match against Jamaica was forced to field inexperienced players most of them playing for Nigeria for the first time following the unavailability of key players due to injuries and logistics reasons especially Asisat Oshoala of FC Barcelona feminine forward.

Waldrum started four players playing their fisrt  international game in Oluwatosin Dimehin and Vivian Ikechukwu (home-based),   Onyinyechi Zogg and Roosa Ariyo (foreign-born).

Although they tried to give a good account of themselves, it was clear they will cave in under pressure and it was not long before the stage got the better of the debutantes who were replaced at some point.

With the Nigerian bench not better either, Waldrum threw in more green-horns in the match as he capped two more foreign-born players, Nicole Payne and Ifeoma Onumonu and home-based Akudo Esther Ogbonna.

However, it was not all gloom on the night as debutante Vivian Ikechukwu came close to scoring a goal in the third minute as she forced goalkeeper, Rebecca Spencer to an early save.