Super Falcons midfield maestro, Deborah Abiodun, says the juju-like drama which unfolded in their match against Cameroon was a mere distraction by their opponents.
The nine-time African champions , Super Falcons pipped Cameroon’s Lionesses 1-0 in a crucial second leg Women’s Olympic football qualifier, after a pulsating encounter in Abuja.
There was however a little drama which unfolded at the start of the second half inside the Moshood Abiola National Stadium.
This was after a Cameroonian player attempted to plant a juju-like material at the Super Falcons’ goal post.
It was a move probably targeted at Nigeria’s goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie who had kept the Cameroonians at bay in Douala and Abuja.
The attempt was however checkmated and possibly the efficacy of the charm was diluted as Nnadozie prevented the Lionesses from breaching her goal.
Abiodun told newsmen during a post-match conference that the move by the visitors was a tactics deployed to distract the Falcons.
She however said that it failed to yield any positive result for the Cameroonians as the Falcons were fully focused.
“We kind of saw it as a point of distraction in the game and were able to keep our focus high, regardless of whatever they believe in.
“We believe in God and in God we stand and put our trust. With God all things are possible.
“So, we don’t care about the voodoo,” she said.
She said that it was a great privilege for her and her colleagues to be part of the team.
The Pittsburg Panthers midfielder was in full flow in the middle of the park.
Crisp with her movements, hard to shake off the ball, and always looking for forward passes.
Her dominance waned after Christy Ucheibe was drafted back to the defence following an injury to centre-back Oluwatosin Demehin.
Meanwhile, Super Falcons’ Coach Randy Waldrum has urged his team to be more clinical in front of goal.
He said this was critical, if they intend to beat their South African counterparts to the final round qualification ticket to the Paris 2024 Olympics.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the nine-time African champions pipped Cameroon’s Lionesses 1-0 in a crucial second leg Women’s Olympic football qualifier, after a pulsating encounter in Abuja.
But they could have paid dearly had the visitors nicked an away goal late in the tie.
Nigeria had several chances to kill the game in the first half after enjoying a good start to the encounter.
However, poor finishing from Jennifer Echegini, Rasheedat Ajibade, Toni Payne, and Esther Okoronkwo left Nigeria holding on for dear life after Cameroon gained the upper hand in the second half.
Waldrum told reporters during a post-match conference that his team created alot of chances but failed to make them count, adding that the weather also had an adverse effect on the players.
“In the match we had some chances that we missed and it was a match we really struggled to win.
“You can go back and look at the opportunities that we had. We could have easily finished the game at half time.
“So, we have to be more efficient and clinical around our opponents vital area and convert chances into goals.
“I would have also preferred the match to be played in the night because the weather was hot, but we can’t complain because the players are all Nigerians and are used to it,” he said.
On his tactical approach to the game, he said he ensured that the best 11 started the match at home, adding however that he had confidence in every player, even those that didn’t play the match.
NAN also reports that coach Waldrum made the bold decision to bench Bay FC forward Asisat Oshoala, choosing instead to start Okoronkwo in attack.
Juventus star Echegini also made the starting eleven of the encounter after sitting on the bench from kickoff in the first leg.
It proved to be an inspired decision as both Echegini and Okoronkwo combined to score the decisive goal.
Aside from the goal, the two players were classy with the ball and fought hard without it to make the Super Falcons attack lively in the first half.
Oshoala emerged from the bench in the second half and did her bit, but coach Waldrum would be thanking his stars for going with his gut’s decision to start Okoronkwo.
The coach also said that the team had some players sidelined with injury, saying however that he was hopeful that they would recover before their next game.
“We have some injuries that we must take care of before our next round against Bayana Bayana of South Africa.
“We will get the videos of our next opponent, play it and study it to know how to deal with them,” he said.
The nine-time champions of Africa take on reigning African champions South Africa in the final round fixture in April.
