Exclusive: Stella Mbachu Reflects on Super Falcons' Narrow Loss to France: Lessons and Positives

The Super Falcons' recent international friendly against France in Angers ended in a narrow 2-1 defeat, but for Nigerian football legend Stella Mbachu, the result was far from disheartening. 

Known for her sharp football acumen and as a coach herself, Mbachu spoke with SportsBoom.com, providing an exclusive assessment of the Falcons’ performance, highlighting the positives, tactical approaches, and areas for growth.

It Was a Confidence Booster

Mbachu was quick to point out the morale boost the team gained from holding their own against one of the world’s strongest sides:  "It was a good game for both the team and the goal scorer, Ifeoma Onumonu. It was an outing that has boosted the morale of the goal scorer and the team generally."

Beyond the narrow defeat, Mbachu noted the importance of the Falcons' ability to compete against elite opposition: "It has shown them that they can face any good country in the women's game and hold their own. That is the most important thing for the team and the goal scorer."

Tactical Insights: "The Coach Got It Right"

When asked about the team’s tactics against a formidable French side, Mbachu praised the approach taken by the coaching staff: "For me, I would say the tactics applied by the coach were very effective. The coach knew the reason for using the tactics he used, and it showed. It helped in the defensive solidity to curtail the French team, despite the absence of a key member in defense, Tosin Demehin."

She also acknowledged the team's ability to defy expectations: "Everyone was expecting a whitewash—3-0, 4-0, 5-0—but at the end of the day, it was a narrow 2-1 loss, with the French side finding it difficult to get more goals. I believe the tactics were spot on from the coach."

No Team Is Perfect

Mbachu, now a coach herself, identified key areas where the Super Falcons need to improve, particularly when facing top European teams: "There's no team that doesn't need improvements, that includes the French team and also the Super Falcons. I believe the coaches have seen the flaws of their respective teams and know what to do to fix them."

For the Falcons, she emphasized ball retention and midfield creativity as priorities: "For me, I believe they really need to work on their ball handling. If they can keep the ball more and make use of it to the best of their abilities, they would perform better."

"The midfielders too need to step up and supply more quality penetrative passes that can cause mayhem to the opposition. With that, they'll be more formidable against any opposition faced, European or not."

The Value of Grade A Friendlies

Mbachu stressed the importance of regularly competing against elite international teams to enhance the Falcons’ growth and competitiveness: "It is very important and will help the team a lot. If they can continue to play Grade A friendlies against elite sides on the international scene like the French team, it'll boost their morale, and it would also make them better and a more formidable side."

She underscored the advantages of facing high-caliber teams: "Playing such Grade A friendlies against elite sides like the French, the German team, Brazil team, Australia, and the others will make them get better. Most of the Super Falcons players are in Europe and already understand the pattern they play over there."

According to Mbachu, these challenging encounters offer invaluable learning opportunities:  "Playing against better opposition will aid their growth, as they would have the time to learn from their mistakes or errors before tournament proper."

A Step Forward

Despite the loss, Stella Mbachu’s assessment reflects optimism for the Super Falcons' future. Their performance against France showcased their resilience and potential, setting the stage for growth through consistent exposure to elite competition.

As Mbachu put it, "With the right improvements and more opportunities to face top teams, the Super Falcons can continue to grow and compete with the best on the global stage."