: Notes

Nigeria, so confident and cocky heading into Thursday’s match with the United States, struck a somewhat different tone in the aftermath of the 7-1 drubbing.

“The game between the USA and Nigeria has come and gone,” Coach Ismaila Mabo said somberly. “We have lost, one goal to seven. To me, this is bad, but we are not out of it yet.

“I have no regret about this result at all. I lost to a very experienced side, a side that has been together before women’s football was introduced in Nigeria. . . . My girls are still young. They still lack experience. We need more exposure.

“In the next five to seven years, we hope to get to the level of the USA. By the time we get to the next World Cup, we shall do our best to pressure our government to get us the necessary resources.”