Paris 2024 Olympic: How history-making Super Falcons players fared in South Africa

By Wale Mustapha

The Nigeria senior women’s national team shared spoils with Banyana Banyana of South Africa as they played goaless draw in the second leg of final qualifying round to the Paris 2024 Olympics on Tuesday.

The result which ended 1-0 on aggregate for Nigeria was enough to see Super Falcons qualified for the Women’s Olympics football tournament for the first time in 16 years.

Nigeriafootball.ng profile how the ladies of Randy Waldrum fared in the encounter.

Chiamaka Nnadozie – 8.5/10

The Paris FC shot stopper was not really troubled in the first half but was forced to make two important saves in the second to ensure Falcons ended the game with another clean sheet.

Michelle Alozie – 7/10

Alozie sticked to her primary role of defending in the encounter which she did well.

She was unable to add more support to the when needed.

Osinachi Ohale – 8.5/10

Ohale proved again that age was just a number.

She marshalled the Falcons’ defense well and led by example.

She was strong both in the air and low blocks as well as her interceptions.

Christy Ucheibe – 7.5/10

Call her Miss Utility, you’re not mistaken. Ucheibe was drafted to defense as a cover for injured Demehin and delivered. She was rock solid against the Bayana attackers and her tackles were accurate.

Chidinma Okeke – 7.5/10

Okeke is a right footed defender but you can hardly noticed with how she defended well and also bumped forward to support the attack in some occasions.

Halimatu Ayinde – 7.5/10

Ayinde brought her experience to bear by dislodging and breaking most of South African’s build ups in the midfield.

Her passes and hold on play were fantastic.

Deborah Abiodun – 7.5/10

She complimented Ayinde in that midfield with her combative markings and break in play for the opponent.

She made some needles tackles in the first half but came good in the second.

Jennifer Echegini – 6.5/10

Echegini was to support the attack as her primary role but had to do more of spoiler in the left midfield.

However, she made good use of the ball and delivered some good passes as well.

Rasheedat Ajibade – 7/10

Ajibade as expected was instrumental to the needed draw with her carriage of the ball and passes.

Though she was hanging on the ball for too long in some occasions especially in the final third but she was handful for the Bayana Bayana.

Uchenna Kanu – 5.5

She had an edgy game, wasn’t really too involved in the attack but make good use of her physique and pace at some points before she was subbed off due to injury.

Chinwendu Ihezuo – 7/10

She gave the South Africans their first scare with shot on target early on.

She was handful for the defenders with her hold on play, height and pace.

Substitutes

Toni Payne – 5.5/10

She made some good runs from the time she came on and offered more support in defense.

Esther Okoronkwo – 5.5/10

The lanky forward did really well in the attack, she made some step overs and combined well with Ajibade in initiating some good moves.

Asisat Oshoala – 4/10

The reigning African Footballer of the Year could not offer much in attack when she came in, but she gave good coverage in midfield.