Oluchi Ohaegbulem shares secret to Nigeria’s fine run at WAFU-B U20 Women’s Cup

By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde

Oluchi Ohaegbulem says their desire to play to instructions and teamwork has been responsible for her side’s  purple patch of form at the ongoing WAFU-B U20 Women’s Cup in Kumasi, Ghana.

The Falconets are enjoying a scintillating campaign at the maiden WAFU-B age-grade championship, with perfect group stage outing, following a 7-0 win over Niger, 6-0 thrashing of Togo and 3-0 victory over Burkina Faso.

The superb form saw the Nigerians dominate the tournament’s group stage Best XI, with six players, namely Anderlin Mgbeche, Chinyere Kalu, Jumoke Alani, Shukura Oladipo, Oluchi Ohaegbulem ad Opeyemi Ajakaye.

Reflecting on their ruthless group stage outing, the team’s captain explained their dominant display so far, having scored 16 goals without conceding once.

“We have not conceded any goal in the group stage. I can say that we played to instructions and that has been the key to us not conceding goals,” Ohaegbulem told NigeriaFootball.ng.

“Six of us making the tournament group stage best XI is by the grace of God because, without God, we are nothing. Secondly, it’s hard work.”

Christopher Danjuma’s side has scored 16 goals against Niger Republic, Togo, and Burkina Faso to top Group B and were rewarded with semi-final duel against Benin Republic, who finished as runners-up in Group A.

The result merely confirms Nigeria’s leadership of the pool, as the Falconets had already qualified for the semi-finals following the 7-0 defeat of Niger Republic and 6-0 hammering of Togo earlier in the tourney.

And the 16-year-old midfielder is confident her side can continue their impressive run against Benin in the semi-final clash at the Baba Yara Stadium on Wednesday.

“We got 16 goals in three matches without conceding any one. It has been our dream to win the trophy,” the Nasarawa Amazons star continued.

“Not conceding goals is a result of team play. We need to play as a team and not individually. We work together to achieve what we want.

“We are crossing over to the final by the grace of God and my expectation from the players is that they remain focused and keep to the target because the main reason why we are in Ghana is to get the trophy back to Nigeria. We need to remain focused and keep to the target.

“What I really loved about my team is the coach who is like a father that had really impacted on us and made us believe that no matter how big or small your opponents are, you need to respect them and that has been what we have been doing from the beginning of the tournament. Benin is not also left over and we also need to respect them.”

The Falconets will face Benin Republic in the second semi-finals at Baba Yara Stadium by 6.30 pm immediately after the first clash between hosts Ghana and Burkina Faso.