Completesports.com’s Live Blogging of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations – WAFCON 2022 Quarter-final match, between the Super Falcons of Nigeria and the Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon at the Mohammed V Stadium, Casablanca.
Live Blogging: Cameroon vs Nigeria – WAFCON 2022 Quarter-final Match
Nnamdi Ezekute
Nnamdi Ezekute, a sports reporting expert, has risen through the ranks at Complete Communications Limited (CCL) famed for publications like Complete Sports.
Email: nnamdi.ezekute@completesportsnigeria.com
X (Formerly Twitter): @Ezekutive
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97 Comments
Just saw the line up. Why is he fielding Ashley as a left full back? Well all the best to the Super Falcons.
She played as a left sided defender in a three man defence
CSN, I asked this question, what time in the US is the match or simply state 9ja time.
Is 1.00pm Eastern time, i live in Colorado, is 11.00am my time.
It’s 6PM NIGERIAN TIME..
So you go do the MATHS since WE are 5 HOURS ahead
6pm Naija time.
Is AIT airing the game?
Yes even NTA IBADAN is AIRING it..
3-5 years ago, you don’t need to worry about match like this, when it is the Falcon against whichever team in Africa, you can go and sleep and come back and check how many goals, but nowadays, the team level has dropped. They are just poor, I don’t know how to define that.
I`m so sorry if my perception is wrong, just my opinion.
While the coach might not be the best…I don’t think the falcons are poor as individual talents…The truth is that female football in Africa has grown and the gap has been closed. To be honest we’ve won it 9 out of 11 times Wordcup qualification should be the major goal first and foremost and then if we win it fine but I’d we don’t we shouldn’t be mad too. Other countries really want to break that dominance. The 2 editions Nigeria didn’t win won by Equatorial Guinea.
Not at all female football in Africa has improved tremendously that’s the reason
Yes the perception was wrong, every country and every team is improving that’s why the games are difficult now. No one wan carry last again
Surprised that Kanu is not starting. Maybe the plan is to use her as a super sub.
Otherwise, the line up looks good.
I agree, in a game like dis plumptree shouldn’t be anywhere near dis team. She isn’t fast and will be bullied by the cameroonian captain (i believe she wears #7). This is where Nicole payne or even alozie would have been better as they have the pace and physicality to contain the cameroonian captain. I do think Kanu would provide more impetus than Ordega. But overall i think the team is balanced. Go falcons and do your best. Wishing u all good fortune
Plumptre is the most technically balanced defender in that team. She is yet to put a foot wrong, and I could see her leadership qualities too, rousing her teammates and getting involved in most set pieces. It’s clear she’s a winner and a fantastic organiser. What she lacks in physique she makes up for in Intelligence and telling passes
There was no moment in the match she lost out in Aby 1v1 duel and I so much do love the way she drives the ball forward. There were flashes of skills too when she skipped past a few players in the wings.
A lot of us are worried because she doesn’t have a robust frame expected of an average African player, and going up against a very physical team like Cameroon, we feel that she could be bullied off the ball most of the time.
How wrong we are! Football has gone beyond brute force or power. A plater’s technical and Tactical abilities are far more crucial in modern football than mere physicality. This is the reason a not too physically robust team like Japan will always be a problem to a physically robust team like Cameroon, any day, any time.
Waldrum seems to know how to deploy her.
We should all appreciate the little girl. She’s a fantastic addition to the team. And I strongly believe her true qualities will come to light at next year’s works cup.
Thank you my brother PAPEFEM…
You DESERVE like 2 plates of COLD PEPPER SOUP for this…
bros she was MOTM for me, her experience showed in the match. There was nothing special about the cameroon. She is very composed compareed to some of the players we paraded.
All of a sudden PLUMPTRE shouldn’t be anywhere near the TEAM…
Smh…
If not for her that was able to contain the PACE of the SOUTH AFRICANS, the FALCONS for collect WOTORIOUSLY that day…
Bro, she hasn’t played in 2 straight games and u put her against a fast cameroonian team. You can shake ur head all u want but the reality is her fitness is questionable and against a physical team like cameroo. I don’t think its wise to play her. That is my opinion but its the coach’s job to do the selection and he has elected to pick her. I will support the team regardless who is selected
Was it HER FAULT that SHE missed 2 straight games?
She was INJURED playing for a COUNTRY that SHE would have DUMPED for the 3 LIONESSES..
And now that she is back and the COACH considered HER fit, you are saying she shouldn’t be anywhere near the TEAM.
Show HER love rather..
Encourage her Bro
My broda, its a mute point, the coach saw it fit to pick her. My opinion in dis matter is irrelevant in d whole scheme of tins. Moreover she is holding her own in dis game. Again i support the SF not any individual so im wishing the team goid luck in dis encounter. Its a close game with 9ja edging it slightly
Nobody is supporting an INDIVIDUAL here…
It is just your ATTACK on HER that is rather too HARSH..
Pinnick go dey jealous as Eto’o dey receive so much love from fans and other dignitaries. This is what our ex internationals should be enjoying if they put dia acts together.
Hesgoal or NFF Facebook now!!!
We need to watch the Cameroon forward Abam. She’s dangerous.
That ref na fire lol!
That is some super ikebe lol
When we play the ball on the ground, Cameroon struggle.
That is true.
WOW this is GOOD!
Even NNAMDI KANU is WATCHING the MATCH
FOOTBALL is really a UNIFYING factor
Onumonu shouldn’t be anywhere near the first team.She has no skill no ball sense,i’m never a fan.
I think Kanu would have done a better job.The earlier Onumonu is substituted the better for the super falcons.
A bit harsh GT.
it was Ifeoma Onumonu that provided the world-class assist that led to Rasheedat Ajibade’s goal. please stop the criticism, all the players did very well under a difficult situation and against a very difficult rival and opponent, Cameroun. Football is a team work event. Up super Falcons and God bless you all.
No one rights off an explosive encounter mostly with a place at next year’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand up for grabs and a chance to win handsomely-worth WAFCON title also added, an explosive contest is expected between the two rival football nations. I pray we don’t go on P.shotout.
Hi Lenukwe, spotted!!
Onumonu is isolated upfront against 3 Cameroon center backs. Additionally, her lack of pace makes it difficult for her. The midfielders need to push up and offer Onumonu the support she needs. Kanu might be better suited for this game because of her pace. But if she is also left on her own against the 3 center backs, it won’t be easy.
The longer the game goes goalless, the more Cameroon will believe.
Nice header by Ajibade!
Goooooal! for the Super falcons. Ajibade.
Ajibade scores from a superbly floated ball from onumunu
Now Cameroon have to come out. We can then hit them on the counter.
Wow, what a goal, great work by Okobi, great vision by Onunonu and precise header by the girl of the moment Agibade.
Groundbreaking work by Okobi. SABC (South Africa Broadcasting Corporation) stopped streaming the match on YouTube around the time Nigeria scored. So I am not watching it on Hesgoal: naughty South Africans….
We need Kanu for Odega, not Chikwelu
Chikwelu needs to retire a asap, she has nothing else to offer. She is just too slow for my likening.
Okobi was a huge factor in that goal. Driving forward with the ball created the crossing opportunity for Onumonu. Nice creative play.
The lionnesses are playing a rough and physical game.
YES! GOOD one COACH
Give my GIRL (PLUMPTRE) a REST mehn..
What has our coach done to remove the best players, Okobi and Ajibade.
Waldrum wants to spoil his hardwork by introducing chikwelu. What a shame. I would have thought if he wanted to bring a midfielder it would be Efih. The midfield is ok as it at the moment why change it.
Unless Okobi is tired or injured, there is no way I would have removed her.
One of our best players out there.
Lol, Cameroon striker falling inside our box looking for penalty.
These Cameroonian ladies are just like them men….They play rough and dirty. Waldrum honestly is not a tactically astute coach…He should thank his stars that he ha has good individual players. Those substitutions can cost a team. Very strange decision.
Onunonu why na
Chikwelu na match spoiler walahi that is some risk this man took.
The level in our midfield has now dropped significantly. Okobi covers lots of grounds, something chikwelu cant do due to her age. I worry now. We aren’t boss the midfield anymore like we had earlier in d game
Good game of football
Great result for Waldrum and his ladies.
We just scrapped through this victory. No fantastic display except that move by Okobi that led to the only goal. Not a very commamding performance!
Morocco will be a major test with a vociferous crowd too.
You think this game is easy?The two best female teams in the continent.
The most important thing in this kind of duel is victory.
Both sides are vastly experienced so it won’t be a stroll in the park for the super falcons.
How can you talk like that! What threat did the Camerounians pose to the falcons for the entire 90 mins. Was it not police ball they were playing. Just kick the ball into our 18 yard box and hope for miracle to happen.
If not for the coach who decided to do the unthinkable by bringing in Chikwelu for Okobi in the match do you think the Camerounians would have bossed the midfield like they did towards the end of the match?
Josh men……..
Congratulations girls world cup here we come, now let’s add one more WAFCON title.
Abeg Chikwelu should just retire. I hope she’s not planning on going to the WC. The moment she was introduced it was like the Cameroonians got more confident. Alozie was found wanting a few times today…Giving alot of space and alot of miskicks but I’m glad we qualified for the WC. I don’t really care about the trophy.
Like i have before,if i were the coach the two Payne sisters will start at the fullbacks
Oops!said
Congrats Nigerians.
Congratulations to the Super Falcons. Brilliant game management. This is fait accompli for me. Australia/New Zealand here we come.
Weldone to the girls.
I said it before, that Nigeria is still ahead of Cameroon, we are still the team to breat. I know what I am saying. Our team is a sweet combination of experience and youth . A sweet combination of home grown and foreign based.
We are not there yet but I still don’t see any African team that can overthrow us for now.
Congratulations my girls, I knew you will make me proud.
We’ve done it again. We are going to the worldcup. Congrats girls, u have made d nation proud once again. It is high time the female players start getting the monetary compensation comparable to d men afterall theyve won more titles (9 vs 3). I know d argument would be that the mens game brings more revenue but we should encourage the female team as theyve made us proud on numerous occasions more than the super eagles have done. Super falcons ask for your rights like the american womens national team did and won. The journey of a million miles start with one step. Again big congrats to u girls, all the doubters have eaten dia humble pie. This is a lesson to us all, its not how u start but how u finish. Now go there and show morocco that the falcons are ready to perch, we are ready to conquer africa again. The 1st goal has been met and the next target is retaining d trophy. Nigerians believe u can do it, go there and make it happen
On point proudly 9ja.
Nail biting finish. Let’s hope Nnadozie was not too badly injured in the collision with Abam.
The Cameroonians played hard, and ran tirelessly. Obviously part of their strategy was not to allow our ladies any time on the ball. I feel we should have taken better advantage of opportunities to counter attack, with Cameroon committing players forward in the final minutes of the game. And our defense seemed a bit jittery as the game neared its end.
Anyway, Nigeria is heading to the world cup. Congrats to the team!
Na kick and purse dem play. Just kicking the ball into the opponent’s half and 18. If we had played this match for the next 2 hours they would not have scored. Individually, Nigeria is technically better than them.
The truth of the matter is that this Waldrum of a coach can’t take the super falcons anywhere. I’m sorry to say, he can’t be the coach of the super falcons.
How on earth can you remove Okobi, the engine-room of the team for a player who has not and cannot do anything for the team. In a physical match like this, the coach decided that he will use Chikwelu to replace Okobi in the midfield! That is very unacceptable and it shows that he does not know what he is doing.
One of the ladies he used in the match against Burundi will do a better job than Chikwelu. I don’t know how this coach is synthesizing these players and the team. Even in the attack, he should not be playing Onumonu as the striker. Onumonu is more productive playing from the flanks. I don’t know if he even realizes this. His best combination in the attack is Ajibade, Kanu, and Onumonu. With Ajibade and Onumonu playing wide. But I guess the coach has other ideas.
I wouldn’t mention Onumonu in the starting lineup i’m afraid
I actually think the coach is cool. He tailors his lineup to the team he’s playing. You can see that he studies the opponent. He converted Payne to fullback against Botswana to neutralize the threat of that pacy No.7, he also reshuffled his midfield according to the strategy he plans to implement. My guess is that he removed Okobi and Ordega because they were tired.
Congratulations to the girls, the lioness were very physical, but SF made it through.
Congratulations to Super Falcons.
Did what true champions do. Rise up to the occasion.
Took out Ghana. Ivory Coast. Now Cameroon.
You’ve shown what grit is all about.
Wishing you the best as we look forward to more positives.
It can only get better.
Onumonu is a good player. Her weakness is the lack of pace. She tends to struggle against fast, athletic defenders.
Against SA, she was on the left flank, and her performance was largely subdued, as she was kept at bay by the pacy SA right back. She did well in the center forward position against Botswana and Burundi because we bossed the midfield in both games, and she received plenty of support from the wingers and midfielders. But against Cameroon today, we struggled to control the midfield because Cameroon had 5 hardworking players in the middle, CHOKING THE MIDFIELD, as Amodu Shuaibu would have put it.
As a result, Onumonu did not get the support she needed from the midfielders, and she cut a solitary figure upfront, battling it out with 3 strong, athletic Cameroon center backs. She was outnumbered and over-powered.
For her to be comfortable, she needs a striker playing alongside her, or the midfielders need to step up and provide support if she’s deployed as a lone striker.
If a pacy center forward is needed for upcoming games, Kanu and Monday look better suited for the task.
As for Okobi, I hope she stays injury free. She’s the creator-in-chief in this team, and her box to box play is vital to the way this team plays.
I do agree with your take on Onumonu. It is the job of the coach to determine how best to use her and with what combination of player. Onumonu will do better with Ajibade and Kanu playing alongside her, Her hold up play is very good and if she plays behind Kanu or on the flank and with Okobi in the midfield, Onumonu will deliver.
I know Onumonu is good but the coach needs to know how best to use her. The striking position does not seem to suit her.
Onumonu isn’t technically sound. That’s the truth. No matter how we look at it. She is finding it hard adjusting to the physicality and pace of African football. If you check the Burundi match, it’s unbelievable she missed some very glaring chances. In today’s match, her lack of intelligence and good anticipation were so clear. Those are the kind qualities you see in a typical Nigerian striker. Even in the current, Oparanozie and Osoola, in their good old days would take those chances for lunch and buried them in style. She was the weakest link in Nigeria’s attack,and her only contribution was that assist after the hard work put in by Okobi.
Nigeria should start looking for an alternative, otherwise we will suffer for her poor decision making and lack of discretion when it matters most.
Onumonu is not technically sound, yet we have her to thank for the sumptuous cross that met Ajibade’s head for the winning goal.
Onumonu is finding it hard to adjust to African football, yet she has grabbed a goal and several assists in 4 Afcon games. And coming into the Afcon, she scored goals against teams like Ghana and Ivory Coast.
If you say she has a problem with pace, and should be benched when we need a pacy striker, I can buy that argument.
But to say she is not technically sound? I disagree with you on this one. I don’t for one minute believe that Onumonu is not technically sound.
Oops, Onumonu didn’t score against Ghana. But she did score against a very good Ivory Coast, and her brilliant back heel goal against Women’s football powerhouse Canada suggests that she is anything but technically bereft.
Dear Pompeii, it’s those goals you mentioned that are still keeping her in the first 11. You mentioned that she was isolated in the game against Cameroon. Was she also isolated against Burundi? You know the quality of a striker when the chances of scoring are low or tight. In her case, even when the chances are high and open, she makes decisions that are quite unbelievable. Maybe she could function well with the support of another striker. But as a lone striker, she seems to lack the pace, the skill, the strength and the agility to hold off opposing defenders.
If you watch Plumptre very well, you’ll notice she has a similar body frame with Onumonu. In fact, to me, she is skinner,may be taller. But she makes up for all these deficiencies with her Intelligence on the ball, both in marking and distribution. In the game against Caneroon, there was never a time she lost a tackle, and they were so clean that the ref waved ‘play on’ most of the time the opponent wanted to be dramatic about going into contest with her. In fact, no Camerooniam striker, big or small, dominated her throughout the match. That’s the technicality, the sophistication, the finesse I’m talking about.
Onumonu, on the other hand, was simply too easy to pocket. And on few occasions she had her chances, she bungled them. With the kind of service she received from Okobi, Uchechi, Kanu, Rasheeda and Halimatu, she should be the tournament’s top goal scorer by now. That’s exactly the point I’m making
Papafem, indeed Onumonu has missed many chances. As I mentioned severally, her biggest issue is lack of pace.
Nwankwo Kanu, as good as he was, would have struggled as a winger for the same reason. Pace. Yet, put him in an offensive role that doesn’t require pace, and he will use his skill and intelligence to excel.
Onumonu is not on Kanu’s level,obviously. But she’s a similar player.
She lacks pace and brute force, but her hold up play is good, she can play with her back to goal and bring others into play. And she scores goals and generates assists.
It’s up to the coaches to decide if she should start games or not. But for me, she’s done a decent job for us so far.
Please when next the job of the falcons become open, kindly apply for the job since you are technically better than the coach. In the meantime smash your tv and stop watching the Falcons. Some of you will borrow data to come and be spewing rubbish
Nigerians fans should learn to respect the coaches choice. Internet coaches are quick to criticize our older players like Ebi and Ohale but I have always maintained you don’t just drop experience players because they are getting old. You only drop them when you have younger players that can bench them.
As for Ebi and Ohale, I still can’t find their replacement yet. Apart from their defence abilities, their great visions for giving great passes and through balls that has resulted in several assists for them has been a great asset to the team. So what they lack in pace because of age they still have other qualities that make them still very hard to ignore by any intelligent coach. A good coach we will like to see how to maximize their strength and manage their weaknesses till we have a younger version like we have gotten for Chikwelu.
Congratulations to our dependable girls.
@ Ikeben, It is right to respect the coaches choice of players. But I’m very sorry, when one of his choices, as in the case of Chikwelu, is very, very faulty, I’m afraid, we cannot keep quiet. Then, we have to let the coach know that he is repeatedly making a grave mistake.
You’ll agree with me that Chikwelu can no longer play for the falcons. Not that she is not good. But age has slowed her down and she’s no longer adding value to the falcons on the pitch. So, she needs to be on the bench.
@Josh Chikwelu only came in for the last few minutes, maybe 5 or so. I guess there must be a reason. He made several changes then to manage the game and he sure succeeded, so he deserves some respect. Do you know if Okobi was tired. And Chikwelu gave Onunonu a juicy pace which she was meant to score. That may have been her assistant for those last few minutes.
I understand your point of view about Okobi’s substitution. We cannot really say what led to her substitution because we are not on the pitch. But the coach should please use the younger players who are fitter.
Thanks though for your comment.
Rather she needs to call it a day with the team!
To God be the glory. Congratulations to Super Falcons and up Nigeria.
I am super excited about today’s victory against Cameroon.
Many people have rubbish coach Waldrum after the South Africa match but today, we are all here celebrating our mama of Africa, the pride of Africa, the Super Falcons of Nigeria.
The coach have made a big statement in this tournament. Simply put, he can beat any team.
Without Asisat and other big stars players, Nigeria have qualified to the world cup and chasing their second dream which is to win the Wafcon .
I am very proud of coach Waldrum. Within few months, he has already won a tournament outside Africa and qualified to the world cup and he still have a chance to win Wafcon this year. Bravo.
If you are good you are good kę. A fanterbulous coach will keep working hard to prove his worth. Hmmmmm, I’m happy that coach Waldrum is making me proud just as coach Dennerby did during his time.
Unto the next one. We are coming for you Morocco. God is in control. We move.
Lastly, I don’t celebrate failure kę. How market Oga Rohr followers? Chai, the coach and Super Falcons have putting you people in your place wotowoto like this kę lol ahahaha. Kai, nawaoooooooo. Ire o. God bless Nigeria!!!
No mind them omonaija. All of a sudden they a looking for excuses to paint the coach bad. Against South Africa they rained hell of insults, he made adjustment in the next 2 games and yet they are not satisfied. I will repeat it here, the cup is coming home. The coach just needs to bring Gift Monday on more early, that girl with her fast pace can damage any defense. We just lacking a goal scorer now. If not we are balanced. Even Morroco go collect on Monday, even with there home support
Omo9ja don’t celebrate failure but celebrate “Our Own” that lost woefully to Tunisia in round 16 and lost painfully to a low-level Ghana which resulted for NIGERIA’s failure to go to Qatar in 2022.
You have made Nigeria proud
Omo9ja, market dey kampe.
Rohr remains one of the most successful coaches we ever had, whether you like it or not. Celebrate the man. If he was allowed to finish what he started, we would be heading to Qatar. In spite of all the problems with NFF Onigbese, HE STILL DELIVERED.