Falconets eviscerated Venezuela with vim and vigour
In Nigeria’s 4:0 obliteration of Venezuela in their last group game encounter to seal safe passage to the knockout stages, the girls were simply and utterly brilliant.
I don't expect everyone to see it this way but in my end I found Danjuma's approach on the night captivating, engrossing, vibrant and exciting. It drew me in and kept me there for the duration. Even though there were still lapses here and there and points of weakness, I hope Danjuma identifies and addresses these on time for the R-of-16.
Coach Chris Danjuma tinkered with the squad selection and on-field tactical orientation from the last match. It was a bit confusing at times as the players up front kept switching positions like a Yoruba woman who changes her wrapper (Yoruba skirt) regularly.
Firstly, the delightful but largely ineffective left-fullback Team Captain Oluchi Ohaegbulem was dropped to the bench for Rafiat Imuran to take her rightful place in defence (having, herself, failed to impress as a winger in the earlier 2 games). In front, competent midfielder Olushola Shobowale took the place of Imuran.
And then, back by popular demand, goalkeeper Faith Omilana took the place of butter-fingers but adorable Shukura Bakare in goal.
Now, in game, Flourish Sebastian started on the left and then later camped out on the right for most of the game before returning to the left. Centre Forward Chiamaka Okwuchukwu will oscillate from operating as a left winger, right winger and to a centre forward throughout.
Midfielder Amina Bello moved from being a centre forward back to her original position in midfield before popping up on the flanks sporadically. Olushola Shobowale will be a roving drifter, dancing from the wings to attacking midfield.
What the thinking was from Danjuma is anyone’s guess and remains a puzzle to me but it did produce dynamism and unpredictability, with the forward players showcasing different aspects of their game and how creative, flexible and dynamic they can be in unfamiliar positions. This approach contributed to producing goals from 4 different scorers (Bello, Okwuchukwu, Sebastian and Igbokwe) which underscored this dynamism in operation.
The formation was a loose 4-2-3-1 with less positional discipline which made it harder to decipher. This more “fluid” system can be problematic against a more tactically compact team.
Their style of play was fluid and vibrant.
They imposed their will on Venezuela with effective wing-play, dominance in midfield, solidity at the back and a more competent goalkeeper who was alert when called upon.
Next stop? A date with either Austria or Japan on Thursday 12 September.
Will Nigeria prevail? I pray so. They just need to be a bit more focused to synchronise their movements within the structure of the formation. If they do this and get the basics right in first touches, precise passes and greater communication and co-ordination, then they have a fighting chance.
The ladies can be sloppy at times. Danjuma has attempted to counter this by addressing the left-back and goalkeeping problems with different personnel and the results were instantaneous.
Let’s hope they carry this over to the second round.
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