Super Falcons goalkeeper, Chiamaka Nnadozie, has been regretting the inability of the Nigerian women national football team to defend their title in the just concluded 2022 Women Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, submitting that if possible, she would sacrifice her individual award for the WAFCON title, Completesports.com reports.
Nnadozie who won the Woman of The Match award in the Super Falcons’ semi-final defeat to the Atlas Lionesses of Morocco via penalty shootout, said that if wishes were horses, she would trade the personal award for her team to reach the final and win the 10th WAFCON title for Nigeria
In a chat with Completesports.com the Paris FC of France goalkeeper said it was painful and disappointing that the Super Falcons were unable to retain the trophy they won when Ghana hosted the WAFCON in 2019, ruing that luck deserted the team when it mattered most.
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“If given a choice, I would trade my individual award to play in the final and retain the title, but unfortunately, we lost to Morocco after being reduced to nine women for over 50 minutes of the semifinal match,” Nnadozie told Completesports.com.
“We wanted to win and we pushed to score a winning goal, but had to lose out through penalty shootout
“It’s one of those things in football – you may do everything to win a game but victory will elude you need it most. We gave it our all, but luck and other factors denied us victory. We took it in good faith and hopefully, we shall win it back in 2024
Nnadozie added: “We have decided to put the loss behind us and focus on the World Cup which we qualified for because we reached the semifinals. We shall try to do well in at the World Cup in Australia/New Zealand. We have to improve to go beyond the second round we reached in France.”
Asked if it was a concern that other African countries have caught up with Nigeria, the 21 year old stated that they have yet to catch up with Nigeria but have really improved tremendously
“We are still the best in Africa and we hope to remain there for years to come,” she said.
“Other African countries have improved and are catching up, but I believe we have many upcoming players in our various junior teams to keep Nigeria’s dominance alive. The authorities should also give more attention to women football for further development of the game,” Nnadozie concluded.
By Richard Jideaka, Abuja
16 Comments
Keep your head up. You ladies tried so much.
The lesson for you ladies and also the SE players is try to follow the rules of the game regarding fouling opponents. Under no circumstances should you put your hands on an opponent, or stamp on their foot. These days, stamping on an opponent’s foot is automatic red card, especially if the stamping was on the ankle or anywhere above the ankle. Don’t give referees that are already biased against you ammunition to use against you. They won’t hesitate to use it.
As unu dey go world cup so, make unu shine unu eyes. Play clean, neat football, no hanky panky, no fouling unless it is absolutely necessary (as in taking one for the team).
If the referees decide to manufacture cards out of thin air against you, let the whole world see that it is daylight robbery. But please don’t give them a legitimate reason.
“especially if the stamping was on the ankle or anywhere above the ankle.”
Which is why I didn’t waste my time debating with those comparing Ayinde and Ajibade’s tackles with the one by the Moroccan player on Ohale.
The tackles by the Nigerian ladies against Morroco and Iwobi against Tunisia incidentally saw them graze the leg from the top-side of the angle downwards in such a dangerous manner that almost led to the opponent’s foot twist in an unnatural position : red card offence all day long.
The one on Ebi by the Moroccan was a direct stamping on the foot which offers leeway between yellow and red cards: the Moroccan was duly awarded yellow.
The ankle grazing foot fouls by Iwobi, Ayinde and Ajibade were dangerous, reckless and outrageous. I don’t know when such fouls sneaked into our game; it must be expunged!
https://youtu.be/GWnm-p-L4XA
Debating the red card incidents by breaking it down for some people to understand is a waste of time and energy,when not every football fan knows the rules of the game,might as well explain the whole rulebook to them that’s why I focused on the real problems the team faced on this platform,red card this,red card that for me is nothing more than a mere excuse for general failure.
Bros, I don’t think those tackles were deliberate ones, especially the one by Ajibade. Our girls were not destined to win this time. That is just how I would like to sum it up. But wishing them better participation next time. Attention now should be shifted to the world cup, and the coaches should look out for outstanding players to beef up the squared. I just think that Alozie and Payne will do better if the are played up front, because both girls are very fast. Coach Waldrun should look for natural full backs from the league or from the falconet or flamingo.
Referees are culpable for inconsistent interpretation of foul intent,yes they were not deliberate and even some of the best players can be guilty of coming in late(Afterall such is the speed of the game) which is what the debate is all about,no player goes into a game thinking of how to break another’s leg,maybe it’s FIFA’s fault for not making the rules clear but @deo is pointing out that our coaches eliminate such crude tackles in training sessions maybe by improving/increasing the intensity of training(fast pace) which will in turn make our players more switched on in such scenarios and prevent it from being a theme of our play.
I can’t wait for the U20 women world cup that will begin in 2 weeks time..
If we need players for the world cup next year then the coach must scout for players in that tournament..
As per the Under 20 world cup, please look out for the following players whom I believe can be fast tracked into the Super Falcons set up for the world cup next year:
1) Oluwatosin Demehin: the Rivers Angels centre defender was on the bench against USA last year.
She was meant to be considered for further Super Falcons invitations but the decision was taken for her to first focus on her Under 20 career more so as Ebi and Ohale continue to strenuously hold on to those centre back positions beyond their prime.
I expect Demehin to push hard for a place in the world cup next year.
2) Flourish Sebastine : the Edo Queens speedster has a huge career in front of her after hopefully setting the Under-20 world cup ablaze. She plays with a style similar to Ademola Lookman and Rasheedat Ajibade with her blistering pace, trickery and killer instinct in front of goal.
Owing to the plethora of indigenous and dual nationality attacking options open to the Super Falcons presently, next year’s World Cup might just have come too early.
But, if over-familiar faces like Ordega, Oparanozie, Ayinde, Okobi and Chikwelu become unavailable for one reason or another, then Sebastian might just sail towards world cup consideration.
Flourish emerged joint top scorer in world cup qualifiers with 7 scintillating goals. I expect her to take this blistering form to next year’s World Cup where hopefully her antics will attract the attention of Randy Waldrum.
3) Mercy Idoko: the Nasarawa Amazons midfielder/attacker is the epitome of calmness with the ball. She reads the game with a level of intelligence that is way beyond her years. She sort of reminds me of Mikel Obi in his Under-20 days and earlier in his senior career before Mourinho’s cardinal sin of converting him into a defensive midfielder.
I don’t see any reason why Idoko cannot be brought in to replace Rita Chikwelu. That said, the likes of Esther Okoronkwo, Peace Efih, Christie Ucheibe and Rasheedat Ajibade provide stern competition in that midfield, not to talk about evergreen duo of Okobi and Ayinde.
But, should Mercy Idoko mesmerise audiences at the youth World Cup, then Waldrum should have an additional prospect to consider.
Idoko, who can also play as a support striker, was third highest goals scorer in the world cup qualifiers with 5 goals.
4) Esther Onyenezide: some would argue that the Robo Queens midfielder is the peak of the bunch and I can see why. Esther is very mouldable and pliable because of her football intelligence hence why she comes across as been extremely versatile.
She has a keen eye for defence splitting passes and she sure knows her way to goal. She is technically gifted and – like Rasheedat Ajibade – can fit into a variety of wing, forward, attacking midfield, and centre midfield roles.
She is a well conditioned athlete and definitely one to look out for at the World Cup.
Again Onyenezide is one of those players expected to push speedily for a place in the Super Falcons squad for next year’s World Cup.
5) Rofiat Imuran : the Rivers Angels fullback is not a stranger to the Super Falcons. Coach Randy Waldrum picked Imruan ahead of Michelle Alozie for Nigeria’s cruch Wafcon qualifiers against Ghana.
Since then, the flamboyant fullback has focused more on her Falconets career. In a team desperately short of natural fullbacks, it will not shock me one bit if Waldrum hands Rofiat a call up ahead of the world cup.
The Under 20 women’s world cup is the perfect platform for Imruan to sell herself as worthy of taking her rightful place in the Super Falcons. She is very rugged in her defensive duties and she loves to overlap with intent.
Other players with an outside chance of gatecrashing the Super Falcons squad are: Joy Jerry (exciting striker), Bashirat Amoo (sturdy midfielder) and Deborah Abiodun (dependable defender).
@deo, good analysis and I will support your submission that those players be call to camp when the time comes for competitiveness and best legs to be selected for the WC.
Thanks Kris.
** Esther Onyenezide, along with compatriot Mercy Idoko, also scored 5 goals in the world cup qualifiers. **
That’s quite a list of young guns you compiled there, Deo.
They look poised to have a good outing at the world cup. And some of them should be able to make the upward transition into the senior team.
Thanks Pompei
You knew the importance of Wafcon trophy than Ajibade and Ayinde.
Those two players should be punished for their “I don’t care attitudes”.
You are the best Nnadozie. Go and make Nigeria proud at the world cup ladies. God bless Nigeria!!!
You are right @omo9ja. What punishment do you suggest?
The coach should call the two players to camp and keep them on the bench when we are playing friendlies and they should not play in the opening match at the world cup.
That will send the entire team a big warning and it will create opportunities to develop another
talented young players for the next
year world cup and beyond.
It will bring competition to the team.
NFF and the coaching crew still have a lot to do at all national team levels.
Our players needs proper Orientation if we have to go very far in any tournament.
Can Ajibade and Ayinde including Iwobi behave like that at club level? If not, national team shouldn’t be taking for granted. Am I communicating? Ire o. God bless Nigeria!!!
You are right.