Izuchukwu OkosiNigeria’s U-17 women’s national team the Flamingos on Sunday claimed the third place position in the 2022 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup via the penalty shootout winning 3-2 against Germany after a nervous 3-3 draw in 90 minutes.
Prime Business Africa’s Izuchukwu Okosi runs the rule on how the players performed.
GOALKEEPER
Faith Omilana
The Nigerian U-17 keeper significantly improved in the tournament and was at her elastic best on Sunday to make string of saves although she capitulated in the dying moments to concede three goals.
Was left on for the penalty shootout as Chikamso Jiwuka was not considered for the third place final. 8/10
DEFENDERS
Comfort Folorunsho
The beanpole defender was apparently having a good game before he was brought off after a terrible collision with goalkeeper Omilana.
Folorunsho was stretched off by the medics. Hopefully she is okay as soon as possible. 5.5/10.
Shakira Oyinlola
Folorunsho’s central defensive partner Shakira Oyinlola was strong in the defence and was lucky not to have conceded a penalty in the second half after a VAR review. 6/10.
Timuninu Adeshina
The left back was efficient in her input. She played for 90 minutes on Sunday unlike in previous the knockout games. Missed from the spotkick.
Her demeanor showed a lack of confidence as walked up to take the penalty. 7/10.
Miracle Usani
The right back provided the assist via a cornerkick from which Amina Bello scored with a bullet header. 7/10.
MISLDFIELDERS
Blessing Emmanuel
Leader of the pack. Her defensive contributions in no small way helped keep the Germans in check before the big capitulation.
Yellow-carded and had to play with the handbrake on consequently after that. 7.5/10.
Mary Aderemi
Aderemi’s marking and ball distribution were not bad was substituted by Edidiong Etim as the Flamingos feverishly went in search of a goal with Germany gradually getting into the groove of the game. 6/10.
Taiwo Afolabi
Lively as ever in the middle of the pack. Afolabi created a couple of decent chances for her teammates in attack. 7/10.
Chidera Okenwa
The midfielder made her World Cup bow in the third place final and played for 59 minutes.
Okenwa assisted the first goal for Ajakaye but missed a good chance to put her name on the scoresheet when her weak shot was saved after a brilliant turn of pace. 7/10.
ATTACKERS
Amina Bello
Bello scored Nigeria’s second goal with a textbook header from a Miracle Usani’s corner kick. Energetic and bullish in attack. 7/10.
Opeyemi Ajakaye
Topscorer during the Africa qualifiers, Opeyemi grabbed her first goal of the tournament when Chidera Okenwa put the ball ‘on the plate’ for her.
As expected, her pace and power were too much for the European U-17 champions. 8/10.
The Substitutes
Blessing Sunday
Sunday made her debut at the World Cup replacing the injured Comfort Folorunsho. The defender was culpable for almost conceding a penalty.
Sunday wa however strong with her tackles and won all her aerial duels. Scored first of the three shootouts for Nigeria. 6/10.
Bisola Mosaku
Brought on late into the game to add bite to the midfield and the search for goals. 5/10.
Edidiong Etim
Scored a brilliant half volley and was close to making it two goals for herself afterwards. Impact substitution. 7/10.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
In October 2004, Okosi joined Complete Communications Limited, publishers of Complete Sports newspaper and Complete Football magazine as a reporter and later script writer for the Complete Sports studio.
He worked there for 13 years until October 2017.
Okosi also worked various times as Correspondent, Content creator and Editor at Sports Market International Magazine, Opera News, All Nigeria Soccer Media and Iconic Media Watch.
He also undertook freelance writing gigs for some local and international organizations.
Okosi is a member of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Association of Movie Producers (AMP), Association of Voiceover Artistes of Nigeria (AVOA), Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) and Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
He has been part of cast in some Nollywood movies and radio dramas including Blood Money 2, Scores To Settle, Dead End 2, Another Campus Tale and Battle Line.
Aside mainstream media and the entertainment industry, he has interests in scouting/unearthing of talents in the sports and creative sectors, exports business and property development.
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