Izuchukwu OkosiNigeria’s U-17 women’s national team the Flamingos on Friday reached the semifinals of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in India following their 4-3 win over USA after penalty shootout.
The game had ended 1-1 in regulation time.
Prime Business Africa’s IZUCHUKWU OKOSI presents the player ratings from the game.
GOALKEEPER
Faith Omilana
First choice keeper Faith Omilana dropped some clangers in the game as she struggled to keep hold of the ball.
Coach Bankole Oloworooke substituted Omilana as the game petered away for Chikamso Jiwuaku who made a save in the penalty shootout with one of the USA kicks going wide off target. 5/10.
DEFENDERS
Miracle Usani
Right back Usani had the task of putting USA forward of Nigerian descent Onyeka Gamero in her place and what a great job Usani did.
Gamero is a quality player and there were times her ability showed anyway. Usani had to retake her initially missed penalty kick after the USA keeper came off her lines too quickly. 7/10.
Timuninu Adeshina
The left back was decent in her defensive duties and also was an outlet going forward.
Adeshina delivered some great crossed into the USA penalty box but was ultimately substituted in the second half. 6/10.
Comfort Folorunsho
Despite missing the only kick in the shootout, Comfort Folorunsho had a hugely impressive outing against USA.
Folorunsho made key tackles, clearances and blocks to deny the Americans.
However there was no air of confidence and belief even as she walked up to take the penalty. 8/10.
Shakirat Oyinlola
Shakirat Oyinlola was another defender who put up a spirited performance on the day but was the weaker of the two central defenders today. 6/10.
READ ALSO: FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup: 5 Takeaways From Flamingos’ Win Against USA
FLAMINGOS MIDFIELDERS
Blessing Emmanuel
Blessing Emmanuel broke plays severally and provided examplary leadership when things were not going smoothly.
She was vocal, talking to the players when necessary. 7/10.
Taiwo Afolabi
The 15-year old midfleder may not have had her best performance in the tournament on Friday but she was clearly never going to be outclassed by the nippy Yankees in the middle.
The standard of her performance somewhat diminished in the second half as the Americans found spaces in the midfield. Was yellow-carded in the second half. 6.5/10.
Bisola Mosaku
Mosaku was at her box to box best in the game. She won tackles and also was efficient in supporting the attack. 7/10.
Omamuzo Edafe
The right wing back scored Nigeria’s goal in the 27th minute of the game from the penalty spot.
She also converted her kick in the shootout albeit the USA keeper was close to stopping it. 7/10.
FORWARDS
Amina Bello
Bello has proven to be undroppable since her introduction from the substitutes’ bench in Nigeria’s first Group game against Germany.
She was a good foil for Opeyemi Ajakaye on Friday as usual but regretabbly went off injured. Hopefully she’s back for the semifinals match. 7/10.
Opeyemi Ajakaye
The team’s top scorer during the qualifiers Opeyemi Ajakaye hasn’t scored in the ongoing FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in India albeit she has scooped two ‘Woman of the Match’ awards.
Always showed great strength and pace. 7/10
The Substitutes
Edidiong Etim
Came off the bench amd once again made her mark with bursting runs and link up plays.
Might start in the semifinals if Bello fails to sufficiently recover on time. 6/10.
Edet Effiong
Came late on as the penalty kicks became inevitable. She made a great block before the final whistle went. Converted her shootout kick. 5/10.
Chikamso Jiwuaku
The second choice keeper saved one of the penalty kicks while another went wide. Might just be considered for the semifinals. 6/10.
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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