Falconets vamoosed past Venezuela in 4:0 victory!
Chris Danjuma masterminded a rip-roaring 4:0 win against Venezuela this weekend with a number of players standing up to be counted. Below is how I thought they performed on the night.
Starting from the back, returnee Goalkeeper Faith Omilana projected an air of confidence and assurance. On a night of few clear-cut chances from the opposition, Omilana succeeded in enhancing her profile by producing 2 phantasmagorical saves. She stretched to punch away one goal bound effort before diving low to keep out another headed effort. She should retain her place for the R-of-16.
Rafiat Imuran returned to her rightful place in left fullback for this one having failed to raise the profile of her play to match the demands and requirements of a winger in prior games. . She looked more convincing in 1v1 duels and her side was hardly breached. She helped manufacture moments of purposeful passing routines with others as she oozed with confidence in what is her natural habitat.
Highly experienced Right Fullback Jumoke Alani had a more pleasant night, where she was expressive in her movements and dangerous on the ball. One freekick from well over 25 yards was awesome in delivery. Her passes were shipshape and business-like (a 1-2 routine with Sebastian was noteworthy). She combined beautifully with others to generate well crafted and incisive interplay of passes. Her defensive work was impressive too as she shored up her wing, making it difficult for Venezuela to deliver crosses with her shielding, marking and competent interceptions, a testament to her rising profile as a potential Senior Super Falcons regular.
The Centre-backs of (right) Shukurat Oladipo and (left) Comfort Folorunsho were less troubled on the night but, when called upon, they combined well and individually to douse the flame of attack from the opposition. Comfort Folorunsho looked suspect and lost at sea when dangerous ball evaded her and landed at the Venezuelan striker who ran at goal; Oladipo seemed more composed with her simple passes. They dealt with aerial balls and ground threats without much lag or quibbles. Their passes were simple without anything special or magical which can be problematic when the team needs more quality deliveries from the bag against more quality oppositions.
The 2 deep-lying playmakers – (left) Chioma Olise and (right) Yina Adoo – worked incredibly hard to protect the back four and propel the team forward with purposeful and penetrative passes. Olise particularly was fabulous on the night, delivering array of alluring long passes and crosses and dose of decent short range passes from left midfield; she even managed a shot on goal as she drifted into dangerous areas severally. Adoo would not be overshadowed though, helping the team to keep it grounded and real in defensive midfield with timely tackles and interceptions. Her passes too were cosy and comfy which made for delightful viewing.
Amina Bello was very active as she covered all 4 roles upfront (CF, AM. RW, LW). Her interactions with others helped to unlock opposition defence with forward-facing passes and runs. She helped the team maintain formation with neat first touches and urgent give-and go passes. As a CF, she succeeded in scoring a goal and troubled the centre-backs with her movements and 1 goal attempt. As a LW, she delivered a nice cross before settling back to midfield.
Flourish Sebastian too covered 4 roles (LW, RW, CF and LMF). In all three positions, she defended from the front, anticipating and cutting off passes between Venezuelan before reclaiming possession back for Nigerian and then recycles the ball. When I saw her, as a LW (left winger), successfully execute a leg-over to take out a defender before driving to the by-line inside the 18 yard box to deliver a low cross, I said to myself: ‘F**k Yeah!’ before punching the air in excitement! When you pay to watch Sebastian, that’s what you pay for! I have waited for this manoeuvre all tournament! As CF (centre forward), she took up good position inside the 18 yard box to receive an in-swinger before volleying home with cool and menacing composure. As a RW (right winger) she was less exciting to watch but purposeful with her passes and composed in possession like a nice 1-2 routine with Alani and few nice dribble attempts.
Olushola Shobowale was also quite fluid up front, covering almost every department there. Her timing was decent in receiving passes and distributing it to others. Communication was good enough and she displayed conviction in her attacking play. She too tried to execute give-and-go passes with others like Flourish Sebastian with mixed results. She was very mobile and busy and she delivered some telling crosses. I think she was more useful in RW where her runs were penetrative and crosses held promise. She was largely inspiring to watch upfront.
Centre Forward Chiamaka Okwuchukwu was fabulous, explosive, deadly and endearing in all 3 roles she performed upfront. From left wing, she delivered an in-swinger for Sebastian’s goal. From right wing, she bulldozed past 2 defenders to pierce through to the by-line before putting it on a plate for Bello’s goal. As a centre forward, she rose highest to power a header beyond the goalkeeper off a corner kick routine for her well deserved goal. Always On-the-lam from defenders, she delivered tantalising crosses all night with movements well woven into the fabric of the formation competently. Her first touches were neat and she never stopped running with exemplary work-rate. I love her to the hills!
Substitute: Joy Igbokwe succeeded in finding the back of the net with an audaciously speculative shot from well over 25 yards. She provided passing outlets upfront. Opeyemi Ajakaiye tried hard to make an impression, one time trying to catch the goalkeeper out from the near post by shoot at goal instead of passing; she is yet to fully announce herself in this tournament. Janet Akekoromowei spread herself about with constant movement off the ball to upset the rhythm of the opposition. Mary Nkpa and Chiamaka Osigwe tried to exchange passes with their colleagues with basic results which at least kept the team ticking along to victory.
Coach Chris Danjuma continues to be adept at qualifying his teams for knockout stages. It is in the knockout stages that he will have to prove critics like me wrong. That said, I for what will not apologise for enjoying his tactical orientation in the group stages with this game serving as the icing on the cake. All of the basic ingredients of a practical football are in situ and it is definitely worth the time and attention sacrificed to watch it. It’s flawed is some area, true, but which tactical formation isn’t? There are a number of given reasons why some fans will slam and criticise Danjuma despite this group stage accomplishment and that’s their problem (as far as I am concerned). The strikers were fast and ferocious, the midfielders were mildly methodical and systematic and the defenders appear to be cleaning up their act with fresh injection in the LB and GK departments.
If the team continually improve, Danjuma might yet prove me wrong a coach incapable of going beyond the quarter finals in World Cups – I hope he does.
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