Paris 2024 Olympic: “Coach needs to work on the attack” — Lesley Ugochukwu’s father

By Monsurah Olatunji 

Lesley Ugochukwu Sr., father of Chelsea midfielder Lesley Ugochukwu, was in Nantes to support the Nigeria women’s national team during their match against Spain at the ongoing Olympic Games in Paris.

The Super Falcons narrowly lost 1-0 in their second group match on Sunday, marking back-to-back defeats and putting Randy Waldrum’s team in a challenging position.

Chelsea signed Ugochukwu Jr. from Stade Rennais for £23.1 million last season. Despite the high-profile transfer, the young midfielder has struggled to make a significant impact at Chelsea.

Born in Rennes, France, the 20-year-old is of Igbo-Nigerian descent and holds dual nationality. He is also the nephew of former Rennes and Super Eagles defender Onyekachi Apam.

Recently, Ugochukwu Jr. was selected by Thierry Henry for France’s Olympic team but did not make the final 18-man squad.

Instead, he remained on a 4-man standby list before being recalled by Chelsea. Ugochukwu has represented France up to the U-23 level but also spent time in Nigeria after sustaining a hamstring injury.

His withdrawal from the French team and his father’s public support for Team Nigeria at the Paris 2024 Olympics suggest a potential shift in his international allegiance.

Ugochukwu Sr. expressed pride in the Super Falcons’ performance despite their loss and highlighted the need for improvements in their attack.

“The girls gave their all. I am happy with their performance, even though we didn’t get a point. But the coach needs to work on the attack,” Ugochukwu Sr. said, according to a post by OJB on X.

Lesley Ugochukwu Sr.’s presence and support for the Super Falcons, combined with his son’s recent experiences, open up intriguing possibilities for the young midfielder’s international future.

As the Nigerian women’s team looks to bounce back in their next matches, the support from influential figures like Ugochukwu Sr. can only boost their morale and potentially influence decisions for players with dual nationality.