For the first time in the history of women football in Africa, Nigeria’s Super Falcons became the whipping girls of a tournament as they lost three matches in a row, at the All Africa Games in Brazzaville Congo.

One of the senior players who pleaded anonymity, said after they lost 2-1 to Cote’d Ivoire in the third place playoff match at the Massamba Dembat Stadium, that the Nigeria Football Federation made a mistake by firing coach Edwin Okon after the Women World Cup in Canada.  The Super Falcons has been on a meltdown, since the often brash coach Okon’s contract was not ‘renewed’ and was replaced by his assistant Christopher Danjuma.

“Though as players we respect the wish of the NFF as it affects coaching, removing the coach was big mistake,” said the player.

“They could have waited for the Olympics qualifier and the All Africa Games to be over, before the change.”

She blamed the Super Falcons scandalous performance at the All Africa Games on inexperienced and immature players drafted into the team. The Super Falcons, who are the reigning African champions were beaten by Cote d Ivoire twice first in the group stages and then in third place match. They also lost 2-1 to Cameroon in the semi-final. These were teams that the Super Falcons beat comprehensively at the 2014 AWC in Namibia.

“I’ve always told people that the senior team is for matured women and not for kids to come and perform experiments.

“This is not an underage tournament. We had inexperienced and uncommitted players in the team and that was why we didn’t do well,” the player revealed.

These defeats are coming against the back ground of the Super Falcons crash to Equatorial Guinea in the Olympic qualifiers.