Unheralded when they left the country three weeks ago, players of the U-20 women’s team which represented Nigeria in the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Germany will return to a hero’s welcome despite losing the final game to the host team. After blazing the trail to become the first African team to play in the finals, the team, coached by Adat Egan, fell 2-0 to Germany in the final game largely due to tactical errors and a penchant for failing to convert their chances.
Germany’s tactic was quite simple; lob the ball to their attackers and wait for the knock down and it worked perfectly as the first goal came through that route. The tournament’s adidas Golden Ball (best player)and Golden Boot winner( highest goals scorer), Alexandra Popp flicked on a header to Dzsenifer Marozsan, who took a touch and passed back to Popp who guided a close range finish beyond the grasp of Alaba Jonathan, in goal for the Falconets. That was the first chance that the German girls got and they took it. The Nigerian women fought back through efforts from Ebere Orji in the 26th minute which Almuth Schult had to parry away from the tight angle from which the shot was struck.
Another combination between Desire Oparanozie and Helen Ukaonu, the left back, gave Oparanozie a good chance but her curling shot from the edge of the box narrowly missed the goal.
Making us proud
His efforts not withstanding, coach Egan needs to explain why he started Gloria Ofoegbu, a player who had not tasted action throughout the tournament, in place of the accomplished Amarachi Okoronkwo; and why he waited until the 57th minute before replacing Ofoegbu. The only explanation that will make any sense would be if Okoronkwo was carrying an injury. Ebere Orji, expected to carry Nigeria’s attacking hopes could not do much as she was moved from her favourite left flank to the middle and that may have disrupted the chemistry of the team.
The killer blow came in added time through an own goal. After an error from Okoronkwo gifted the hosts a corner kick, and two more such kicks later, Kulig took a powerful shot that came off the post and hit Osinachi Ohale on the side before crossing the line. It was game over for the Falconets.
The defeat can be blamed on the paucity of goals as Nigeria went into the final with possibly the least goals ever scored to qualify for that level, scoring six goals and conceding five in the tourney.
Godday Esezobor, Chairman of Female Football Club Owners Association and proprietor of Makbet Queens, a women’s football club based in Lagos, said the Falconets have done Nigeria proud, although coach Egan was wrong to have gambled on Ofoegbu:
“The ladies have made all of us proud. They should hold their heads high. However, mention must be made of the decision to bring in Ofoegbu in place of Okoronkwo who played in virtually all the matches. In women’s football you don’t take that kind of risk. Normally, what happens is that barring injuries and things like expulsion, you finish a tournament with the same team you started it with. This is because the players would have struck a rhythm, which new injections to the squad would disrupt,” Esezobor said.
But that is not taking anything away from this team, which literally sneaked out of the country, were abandoned by the leader of the Nigerian delegation, and got paid peanuts compared to the millions lavished on our men.
Most commentators agree that the Falconets have made Nigerians proud. Their countrymen all over the world will justifiably praise their achievement.
Popping into history
Germany’s Alexandra Popp worked her way into the history books by scoring 10 goals in six matches. In the same vein, she was crowned the best player of the championship. Germany also became the first team that will host and win the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.
For the Falconets, it was a record setting tournament. When they beat defending champions, the United States of America in the quarter-final, they became the first African women football team at any level, to qualify for the semi-final of any FIFA Women’s World Cup. Playing in the final had raised the bar even further, and has also helped in redeeming Nigeria’s poor image in football after the debacle in South Africa.
Comments