Completesports.com’s ADEBOYE AMOSU rates the performance of Super Falcons players in their 0-0 draw against Canada at the Melbourne Rectangular Stadium on Friday morning…
CHIAMAKA NNADOZIE 8/10
Saved from the spot early in the second half. The captain truly led by example in the thrilling contest.
MICHELLE ALOZIE 7/10
A lively display from the right-back. She had a goal bound effort blocked in the second half.
OSINACHI OHALE 71/0
The experienced centre-back was handed the responsibility of organising the defense and she did a great job.
TOSIN DEMEHIN 7/10
The young centre-back handled the pressure well in what was the biggest match of her career so far. She definitely has a big ahead career ahead.
ASHLEIGH PLUMPTRE 7/10
A matured and smooth display from the former Leicester City defender. She was one of Nigeria’s top performers in the game.
DEBORAH ABIODUN 7/10
A stunning debut from the young defensive midfielder. The late red card was the only blight on her performance.
CHRISTY UCHEIBE 8/10
The Benfica star put up a superb performance in the game. A contender for Woman of the Match alongside Chiamaka Nnadozie.
FRANCISCA ORDEGA 6/10
Not really at her best in the game. She conceded a penalty early in the second half.
TONI PAYNE 7/10
The Sevilla of Spain star adapted well to her new position.
IFEOMA ONUMONU 7/10
A good performance from the Gotham FC forward. Troubled the Canada defence and had a few half chances.
ASISAT OSHOALA 7/10
She was a bit isolated upfront. The Barcelona forward came close to scoring twice in the first half.
SUBSTITUTES
UCHENNA KANU 5/10
Took the place of Francis Ordega on 72 minutes. She didn’t too much to affect the game.
ESTHER OKORONKWO 3/10
She was handed a cameo appearance against the Olympic champions.
JENNIFER ECHEGINI
Noted Rated
10 Comments
Why should the coach effect late changes ?… We saw how Canada was making changes in order to win the game?… I was expecting the coach to bring in Jennifer echiegini on time because I know that that girl is a baller and have nose for goals!!.. Please next game he should make early changes in order to give Super Falcons chance to qualify!
Falcons had a poor strategy to back off, show respect, wait and see, and hit on the counter. We went in there not expecting to win.
A big congratulation to these beautiful ladies. Honestly, I did not waste my time staying awake all night. THAT NEVER SAY DIE NIGERIAN SPIRIT ALWAYS GETS ANIMATED WHEN WE HAVE OUR BACK AGAINST THE WALL. REALLY PROUD THESE GIRL.
Also not forgetting to give a big thumbs up to the coaching crew led by Waldrum. Wish you all as a team to get a lot more stronger and better as well as become impossible to beat by any of the opponent you meet. Aaaaaaawwuuuuuraaaa.
Thw positives I am seeing , is that older players are being eased off. The only reason we lost Aisha Bihari and WAFCON was the over reliance on those Enobi and colleagues. Those very old players shouldn’t have travelled.Look at how the make up artist Ordega disgraced herself yesterday.Enobi couldn’t even run pace by pace with South Africans last WAFCON. This coach is useless
You people should stop calling them old women.they played well.
_ Nig v Can: Retrospective Review _
The Super Falcons produced a sturdy and professional display this morning as they held heavyweight Canada to a highly respectable goalless draw in their world cup curtain raiser.
Below are my 7 observations:
1, I can understand why some observers criticized aspects of Onumonu’s game. She played her winger role more like a second striker, cutting in to unleash shots or deliver inswingers. This often left Oshoala isolated at times and it starved the Super Falcons of width as her interpretation of the role contracted and shrunk the pitch rather than expanding the grass. She was unlikely to run to the byline to deliver crosses.
It is her own interpretation of that role which worked as it caused the Canadians problems. It succeeded in creating openings on the inside where she unleashed a ferocious shot and troubled the Canadians severally.
2, Individually, our defenders were error-prone at times. But collectively, they were as solid as a rock and as sound as bell.They succeeded in supporting each other with the likes of Ordega and Ucheibe providing additional defensive buffers.
3, Oshoala is an out-and-out centre forward, full stop. The combination of Onumonu drifting in and playing more like a second striker and seeking to score herself and Ordega being more preoccupied with team shape, formational structural integrity and defensive discipline, Oshoala was effectively starved of service.
The sort of long balls from deep that she loves to feed on like a hawk were also few and far between although Alozie and Abiodun tried on occasion to produce those balls.
Individually, Oshoala’s game was tamed, but as a collective effort, she was solid. She worked tirelessly for the team and her presence and reputation alone were enough to keep the Canadian defenders on their toes.
The problem Oshoala faced was that the Super Falcons (as an outfit) were insular, gritty, narrow and compressed in effectively containing and stifling the Canadians. This approach worked wonders for Nigeria (as it helped to produce the remarkable 0:0 result) but it is not entirely fertile ground for Oshoala’s more open and expensive game to thrive.
4, Nnadozie is a world class goalkeeper. Her penalty saving heroics kept Nigeria in the tie. Such compelling outputs will be crucial for Nigeria to make progress from the group.
5, Toni Payne like the rest of the team produced a performance that kept them in shape and hard to break down. Individually though, her moments of brilliance and magic were few and far between. Perhaps her best position is on the flanks but as an attacking midfielder, she was not the tour de force that I had expected.Her teamwork was exemplary even in the absence of individual flair, imagination and creativity.
6, Ucheibe is the heartbeat of Nigeria’s midfield. It’s almost hard to see any other player produce such emphatic and compelling outputs. She was on hand to help her defenders with robust shielding and tacklings whilst she worked tirelessly to identify and plug any gaps in midfield. She was the proverbial nuisance to Canadian attacking efforts.
7, The Super Falcons were solid and compact. Their performance succeeded in sending the message that they will not be pushovers to any opposition in this tournament. Their level of focus was exemplary as they pulled together in the same direction with symmetry, coordination and organisation.
Even when the individual brilliance of players like Oshoala, Plumptree, Payne and Ordega failed to come to the fore, their collective efforts and team play elevated the overall quality of the team’s output.
None of the players looked out of place. Despite her red card, youngster Abiodun posted a solid performance. Plumptre kept it tight in right fullback, Ordega supported the structure of the team’s shape with pristin movements whilst Canadian defenders couldn’t afford to take their eyes off Oshoala.
The selling point of their performance was when they were not in possession. The level of concentration that they employed in frustrating the Canadians can never be overemphasized: it reminded me of Diego Someone’s Atletico Madrid.
They showed they could also mix it up by pushing up to trouble the Canadians leading to several near-misses and corner kicks. I felt fully underwritten into the contract of professionalism that their application produced.
Overall, it’s a performance I think most fans will be proud of with a positive scoreline to boot.
I couldn’t watch the match, but Chiamaka was handed the captain’s band in a lineup that included Asisat?
Anyway, I’ve noticed most coaches prefer the most influential and vocal person in the defense line (including the goalkeeper) as captain as they can organise, lead the charge and shout out instructions to teammates from the back. Only exceptional and dominant strikers/midfielders get the arm’s band.
I think you are right abou Nnadozie’s organizational skills.
Deborah Abi osun is a gem of a
Midfielder, we are going to miss her in our next match, but good thing we having ajibada back from
Suspension , the entire team
Okay superbly well, but why is oparanozie not playing?