Following the Super Falcons 0-0 draw against Algeria in their final group game at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium, Casablanca on Sunday night, Completesports com’s ADEBOYE AMOSU rates performance of the players…
Chiamaka Nnadozie 6/10
The goalkeeper was largely untroubled in the game. She was good with her ball distribution.
Miracle Usani 6/10
She performed her defensive task well. The defender was replaced by Folashade Ijamilusi in the 77th minute.
Christy Ucheibe 6/10
Showed her versatility by stepping in at centre-back. A good display from the Benfica player.
Tosin Demehin 6/10
Demehin organised the defence well in the absence of the more experienced Osinachi Ohale.
Shukurat Oladipo 6/10
The AS Roma player defended well, and also supported the attack.
Jennifer Echegini 6/10
Impressed in her first start of the competition. Unlucky not to get a goal in the game.
Rasheedat Ajibade 5/10
The captain was not at her best in the game. She is yet to make an impression in the competition.
Shakirat Isah 6/10
A good performance in her first start of the competition.
Francisca Ordega 5/10
The veteran winger missed a good chance ih the first half. Not a good performance from the Al-Ittihad Ladies star.
Chiwendu Ihezuo 4/10
Failed to impress in her first start of the competition. She was replaced by Omorinsola Babajide in the 77th minute.
Ifeoma Onumonu 4/10
A poor performance from the tall striker. She didn’t do enough to merit a starting spot in the next game.
Substitutes
Esther Okoronkwo 6/10
Played as a substitute for the third time in the competition. She injected more life to the Super Falcons’ attack following her introduction.
Folashade Ijamilusi 4/10
Ijamilusi replaced Miracle Usani in the 77th minute. She wasted a good chance following her introduction.
Rinsola Babajide 5/10
She gave a good account of herself after replacing Chiwendu Ihezuo.
1 Comment
The Super Falcons qualified for the quarter finals of this Wafcon top of the group following a 0:0 draw against Algeria this week
Here are my player gradings:
Nnadozie: She produced a decent save to prevent a tricky cross from sneaking into the net embarrassingly. Her distribution was decent, however she wasn’t overly tested.
Grade’: Good.
Oladipo: She delivered a few overcooked long balls. Her passes on the ground were decent and she sort of supported the attack by positioning higher up the pitch at times.
Grade: Average.
Isah: She was composed on the ball with decent movements and jockeys off the ball. Her defensive credentials weren’t tested too much as Algeria defended for most parts
Grade’ Average
Demehin: She was supremely assured in possession with exceptional long balls, exemplary ball control and fluid movement. Off the ball, her interceptions were A rare and she marked well.
Grade: Quality.
Usani: Her long balls to attack had more credibility. Her overlapping runs held promise. She played with assurance with ball control and interceptions.
Grade’: Decent.
Ucheibe: She shielded her back four with whip-smart kinetic energy and integrity in how she tackled, intercepted and marked. On the ball, she didn’t produce any visionary passes but she kept things simple.
Grade: Acceptable.
Echegini: She would commendably dart past one, two and three Algerian defenders before being ultimately dispossessed or before shooting wide. She participated in decent passing routines with others but, ultimately, I think it was a night to forget.
Grade: Manageable.
Ajibade: She can never be faulted for effort. Her understanding with long-term compadre Ordega produced excitement as they bounced off each other well with clever interplay of passes. She tried to identify space and she drove into opposition box 18 with menace, almost winning a penalty on one occasion.
Grade: Painstaking.
Ihezuo: Either on the left or right, she struggled as a winger. Her crosses were easily picked off and she struggled to shrug off her markers. But, she kept the Algeria backline busy in trying to prevent her runs and she kept them guessing which part of the wings she would turn up.
Grade’: Scope for improvement.
Ordega: She produced a mixed bag of corner kicks. Her work-rate was exceptional. She struck a high level of understanding with Ajibade as they combined well to generate defence splitting 1-2 passes. Her crosses, particularly down the left, packed a deadly punch. She created openings and almost scored.
Grade: Imposing.and Impactful.
Onumonu: She was always eager to get involved in the action. Her positioning was A rate and her touches were fine and dandy. But she struggled to shake off her markers enough to be clean through on goal.
Grade’: Promising
Subs
Okoronkwo: She had more joy shrugging off her markers with pace and trickery. But the intensity of marking our strikes suffered from in this game meant Okoronkwo’s end product was curtailed.
Grade: Eye catching.
Ijamilusi: She produced some neat crosses and she looked light on her feet with nice fluidity. She was involved in some promising interplay of passes.
Grade’ Lively.
Babajide: She ran into the same problems in this match as all the other Super Falcons strikers and wingers in not being able to create space in a heavily crowded Algeria backline. She produces passes but she couldn’t manufacture moments of magic.
Grade: Average
Coach:
Madugu,: His direct brand of football couldn’t unlock a stubborn Algeria defence. His direction only succeeded in creating half chances. He was clueless in crafting a method to displace and disburse Algeria defence without over relying on predictable passes, and ponderous passages of play.
Grade’: Scope for improvement.