olapluto:
dodobytes, you will be making a big mistake by dropping Oparanozie. Shes miles ahead of Dike and Ini.

If she is miles ahead of Umotong and Dike, Falcons should not take the field against USWNT. Anybody is better than Oparanozie at this point. Nigeria could find a diamond in the rough.

Duru1:


If she is miles ahead of Umotong and Dike, Falcons should not take the field against USWNT. Anybody is better than Oparanozie at this point. Nigeria could find a diamond in the rough.

It wont take you 10 minutes of the game to start clamouring for Oparanozie. She is a handfull. The fact that she was tired against Australia doesnt mean she's no good. She has rested, so has Oshoala. Only Ordega is likely to be unfit.
You will see the real Oparanozie on Tuesday.

dodobytes:
After the match against Australia, I think lots of people just quit on the Falcons, truth be told I kinda gave up too, I decided to just forget the game and move on jare. But being a green-white-green for life I had to ask myself questions and I found myself answering them.

What went wrong against Australia?

• I personally think the girls burnt out in the first 15-20minutes of the game, and as stamina and pace deserted us, the quickness and trickery of the Matilda’s began to show. I can attribute this to the error of fielding the same team without any changes.

• Desire Oparanozie is a good player but in this tournament she hasn’t really come to the party (it happens to the best of players, nothing personal). Against the Matilda’s she was looking very heavy and lost for pace.

• Ohale starting on the right flank was a testament to the fact that we have a coach that is stubborn and needs to upgrade his technical abilities. Why make the same mistake that cost us dearly in our first game? Truth be said, the substitution of Ohale later on in the game, as much as it was welcome, it was needless if the right thing was done initially. That slot could have been used to unleash more firepower against the opposition as we direly needed a goal to get our girls fired up again.

• As our girls tired out, we lost the engine room of the game (midfield), they completely bossed the midfield and it was only a matter of time before we conceded. Dede might not be what she used to be, but I absolve her of any blame for the two goals conceded on the day, her defenders didn’t do her any favours.

• I don’t fault Coach Okon’s substitution on the day;

 Ohale had to leave for Njoku,though it was a wasted substitution but it was needful to shore up the right side of the defence, we were looking fragile there.
 The midfield was lost, we needed to calm it down and regain some form of control,while at the same time looking to go forward.Cecelia Nku and Ohadugha cant give you that.The only player that can give you that on the bench is Perpetua,credit to her there was some form of control when she got on the pitch.
 Desire was a spent force we needed fresh legs to trouble the opposition and in comes Dike,smart move but a little too late.

I know that we have a mountain to climb to get the result against USA, but if I were Okon would I roll over and die? Never!! I would rather go out guns blazing.

So I am gonna be Okon for a moment and come up with what I feel would be my plan to get a result, I would tell my girls that we have a fighting chance, it might be a small window, but we have a chance and we should go for it. Firstly I would allow the girls go and rest, they would surely need it because against the USA, we are going to bring the thunder!!

to be continued…..

I knew this Nigerian Falcons are all about raw skills no technics due to lack of preparations. The match against Australia really expose their handicap. They are not technically sound and lacked basic know-how of elevated soccer. The second goal the Falcons conceded against Matildas indicated that the players do not even communicate with each other on the field. There was no team cohesiveness as players were bent on individual glory. This Falcon's team sucks beginning from the team preparation to selection. Most of the young and hungry players were left out of this team.

olapluto:

It wont take you 10 minutes of the game to start clamouring for Oparanozie. She is a handfull. The fact that she was tired against Australia doesnt mean she's no good. She has rested, so has Oshoala. Only Ordega is likely to be unfit.
You will see the real Oparanozie on Tuesday.

When she is in shape, yes. But I can tell you that Oparanozie on this stanza is a shadow of herself. She kept stumbling and falling knees over head on any touch of the ball.

Duru1:


When she is in shape, yes. But I can tell you that Oparanozie on this stanza is a shadow of herself. She kept stumbling and falling knees over head on any touch of the ball.

She fell because she played for too long on artificial turf in the opening match. It is more work than on grass because the bounce of the ball is not normal. Also, she was perhaps the most hardworking against Sweden. She held the game up alone almost all the time.
Moreso, Okon trains the girls twice a day. That is too much, even for men on artificial turf.

olapluto:

It wont take you 10 minutes of the game to start clamouring for Oparanozie. She is a handfull. The fact that she was tired against Australia doesnt mean she's no good. She has rested, so has Oshoala. Only Ordega is likely to be unfit.
You will see the real Oparanozie on Tuesday.

Olapluto..i dey suspect you ooo!

You sure say u nor dey canada with these girls??..

Anyways,Oparanozie is a quality player on the day,but so far she hasnt come to the party,and she seems to be a bit heavy hence she is always second best in duels with opposing defenders.

I think Ini/Dike with enough pace and energy will provide more threat going forward for now,let them wear out the defence then Oparanozie can come in and do the damage.

olapluto:

She fell because she played for too long on artificial turf in the opening match. It is more work than on grass because the bounce of the ball is not normal. Also, she was perhaps the most hardworking against Sweden. She held the game up alone almost all the time.
Moreso, Okon trains the girls twice a day. That is too much, even for men on artificial turf.

Okon must be a dullard for training the girls twice a day.

dodobytes:
When the momentum is with our team I would encourage them to switch to a 4-2-4 formation where Okobi either pushes to the flank and Oshoala comes into the center, or Okobi pushes straight up into the center. Nwabuoku then steps up into the central midfield role.

This should be the complexion of the team when we are on the attack and pressing for a goal. Notwithstanding Ordega and Oshoala can always interchange depending on where they both find joy.

I would not play Nku because of size issue against USWNT. Nonetheless, you have a good lineup but I had followings in the lineup:

Whyte
Njoku Ohale Chukwunonye Ebere

Ordega Ohadugha Okobi Sunday

Umotong Oshoala

Nwabuoku's play does not represent the armband she wore. She does not play or act like a captain.

Duru1:



I would not play Nku because of size issue against USWNT. Nonetheless, you have a good lineup but I had followings in the lineup:

Whyte
Njoku Ohale Chukwunonye Ebere

Ordega Ohadugha Okobi Sunday

Umotong Oshoala

Nwabuoku's play does not represent the armband she wore. She does not play or act like a captain.

Duru,this line-up is too offensive,the USWNT will seize the midfield easily and dominate the game for the full 90mins.

Ordega is a minus defensively,same for Sunday (in short Sunday insnt a player for this game),Okobi cant be burdened with too much defensive duties when she has to be the conduit for all our attacking moves.

The only hard tackling midfielder is Ohadugha,and trust me she will be overwhelmed if this tactical formation is employed.

olapluto:

It wont take you 10 minutes of the game to start clamouring for Oparanozie. She is a handfull. The fact that she was tired against Australia doesnt mean she's no good. She has rested, so has Oshoala. Only Ordega is likely to be unfit.
You will see the real Oparanozie on Tuesday.

I used to admire Desire Oparanozire during her U20 days, she was so good at heading balls into the opponent's net, her runs usually scare defenders, she was solid and never tired. That Desire is just lacking in this Oparanozie.
I call still recall her scintilating performances during the U20 World Cup where she became so popular as a 'player that always land on her feet'. We need that that Desire in Oparanozie against USA.

Oparanozie always lands on her feet
Desire Oparanozie spends a lot of time off the ground, as is only to be expected of one of the best headers of the ball at the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup 2012.
And no matter how much the Nigeriaattacker is buffeted by opposition defenders or how acrobatically she tries to reach the ball, she always manages to land on her feet.
She also manages to keep her feet firmly on the ground metaphorically, a useful trait when she has to deal with disappointment, such as in the recent quarter-final against Mexico.
www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/u20womensworldcup/japan2012/news/newsid=1693375/index.html

My people please lets not give up on Oparanozie. She is one of the best in the world. I just cant wait for her to surprise you all on Tuesday. The game vs USA so much suits her. With American defenders, she will show herself.
I still hope and pray that the coach shores up the midfield. America so far has not been convincing. They wont be against Nigeria. We just need to control the match and avoid silly defensive gifts.

Oparanoize no doubt is deadly striker but in this tournament she is too heavy and always falling off the ball .Please the coach should try other strikers bench Ohale and Oparanoize ...We have raw talents to beat Usa but MR OKON is tactical poor and we may consider cheap goals .

samtol4:
Oparanoize no doubt is deadly striker but in this tournament she is too heavy and always falling off the ball .Please the coach should try other strikers bench Ohale and Oparanoize ...We have raw talents to beat Usa but MR OKON is tactical poor and we may consider cheap goals .

Ohale should not be benched because she has been played out of position in this tournament. I had replaced Ebi with Ohale. Also, Ayinde should be replaced with Ohadugha.

dodobytes:


Duru,this line-up is too offensive,the USWNT will seize the midfield easily and dominate the game for the full 90mins.

Ordega is a minus defensively,same for Sunday (in short Sunday insnt a player for this game),Okobi cant be burdened with too much defensive duties when she has to be the conduit for all our attacking moves.

The only hard tackling midfielder is Ohadugha,and trust me she will be overwhelmed if this tactical formation is employed.

The Falcons need a creative and skillful player at the midfield. I think Okobi is suited for the role. If Ohadugha is a good defensive midfielder, I had play her in the position instead of Nwabuoku who has been "no-show" in this tournament. Esther Sunday can stretch the USWNT defense with her skills thereby creating space for Oshoala and Umotong to work magic. If Ordega is at odds with defense, then 4-3-3 is the answer with Oshoala as an attacking midfielder.

Look we can't blame our ladies they simply got tired u can't expect them to play 90 minutes with no subs then come back and perform u could even see it at the end when the game ended with 3 minutes left to play none of the girls protested they just wanted the game to end. Also that ref ruined us she gave our midfielder and defender yellow cards for nothing therefore taking away their edge. We need to be like Tunisia and complain kicking and screaming when we are wronged cuz nobody is going to speak up for us.

FIFA has suspended Ugo Njoku for 3 matches for elbowing Kerr, her Australian opponent.

I guess Ohale will be the starting RB for the 3rd game in a row.

Falcons Will Qualify- Nkwocha

The Super Falcons of Nigeria arrived in Vancouver , venue of their last group game against The US yesterday, and veteran striker, Perpetua Nkwocha, said her team mates can still qualify for the second round of the Canada 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Nkwocha told SportingLife that all hope should not be lost on the Nigerian side.
The Super Falcons will lock horns with The United States in a must-win match at 1 am (Nigerian time) on Tuesday, in Vancouver.
A draw with Nigeria in Vancouver coupled with an Australia victory over Sweden could see the United States still finishing second in Group D as against their lead on the table. Nevertheless, expectations are high in the Nigeria camp that star striker, Asisat Oshoala, will put in a professional touch against the Americans, just like she did to torment the Swedish defence in their first match.

CFCfan:
FIFA has suspended Ugo Njoku for 3 matches for elbowing Kerr, her Australian opponent.

I guess Ohale will be the starting RB for the 3rd game in a row.

Keen followers of this thread will admit i always said Njoku's temperament was always suspect.This is really sad,she deserves the ban no doubt though.

I just wish we can use somebody else but Ohale there.

Foxsports puts it this way.."Njoku’s actions, which were described as one of the most violent acts seen in a women’s football match, sent Kerr to the deck in the second half of Australia’s 2-0 win over the Super Eagles at Winnipeg Stadium on Saturday."

dodobytes:


Keen followers of this thread will admit i always said Njoku's temperament was always suspect.This is really sad,she deserves the ban no doubt though.

I just wish we can use somebody else but Ohale there.

Foxsports puts it this way.."Njoku’s actions, which were described as one of the most violent acts seen in a women’s football match, sent Kerr to the deck in the second half of Australia’s 2-0 win over the Super Eagles at Winnipeg Stadium on Saturday."

Yes u did and i guess u were right but all this smells fishy to me, they basically forced FIFA'S hands on the matter id like to see that play again cuz at first i believed it was a tangle gone wrong i don't believe she came in with an intention to do that i believe the other girl made it seem worse by crying.

Super Falcons Arrive in Vancouver for Make or Break Tie Against USA.

The African champions arrived the Canadian city for their final group clash with the former champions in search of a second round ticket.
Nigeria's senior women national team arrived in Vancouver to continue preparations for their final Group D game against two-time winners USA on Saturday.
Edwin Okon's side has to defeat the Americans or earn a draw in other to contend for one of the slots of the best third-placed side after losing their second game 2-0 against Australia.
All 21 players, 10 team officials as well as NFF representatives including Chairman of FA chairmen Ibrahim Gusua on board to the city of Vancouver.
The crucial tie which will take place at 1am Nigerian time has been sold out according to organizers with thousands of US fans expected to storm the Vancouver Stadium.
m.goal.com/x/en-ng/news/12725942

Edwin Okon Defends Ugo Njoku against calls for ban over alleged elbow on Australia striker.
The Super Falcons trainer felt the elbowing of striker Sam Kerr was not deliberate by his defender and that the call for a ban was needless.

Head coach of Nigeria's women team Edwin Okon has defended player Ugo Njoku who allegedly elbowed Australia striker Sam Kerr.
Despite the Maltidas' increasing appeal for a ban over the 'deliberate' challenge that saw Kerr injure her jaw, Okon insists the elbow by Njoku was not premeditated.
"It was not deliberate. As you all know, it's a game of contact," Okon told media in a response to the challenge which happened late in the second half.
Despite her side’s 2-0 victory over the African champions, the Matildas forward Kerr lamented the ugly experience which she said was "vicious".
"I guess it was [deliberate] but I'm not sure what she took from it. We had a bit of a push before but nothing to do that," Kerr said.
"I was also quite upset because it was quite vicious. It's quite disappointing," she concluded.
Meanwhile, Fifa are yet to make a statement on the incident despite the growing calls from the Australian media and appeal of the Matildas for a ban on Njoku.
Nigeria will play the USA in their next game on Wednesday morning.
m.goal.com/x/en-ng/news/12725292

Okon Tips Falcons for Q’ final.
Edwin Okon
CANADA 2015
Head coach of Nigeria's Women's national team, Edwin Okon insists Friday's 0-2 loss to Australia does not spell the end for his side at the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada.
A well taken brace from Kyah Simon condemned the Super Falcons to their first defeat of the tournament at the Winnipeg Stadium, Winnipeg.
Okon however believes his charges can turn things around by recording a stunning upset over highly-ranked United States in their third and final preliminary game.
"I thought it was a very good match. I congratulate the winners, Australia.
"We have to get back out and score goals.
"We must qualify. Nigeria must qualify to the next round. So we must get back to the form we had against Sweden," Okon was quoted as saying on www.fifa.com.
Nigeria have never beaten the US Women's Soccer Team in a competitive game at senior level.
Meanwhile, the Super Falcons have arrived Vancouver with great expectation of picking the maximum points when they confront former world champions USA in their last group phase match on Tuesday.
The African Champions arrived Saturday aboard a chartered aircraft about 11am Vancouver time, which is 7pm Nigerian time. They then had 30 minutes drive from the airport to their Coast Coal Harbour Hotel, the same hotel where the U.S. team is lodged.
On arrival, the coaches told the girls that they have no option other than to pick all three points to stand a chance of qualifying from the group.
"Let's put the defeat against Australia behind us and be focused on picking the maximum points against USA. We can do it only if we believe. This is our last chance of qualifying from the group and we have to make it count," Okon said.
Later in the day, the team had a light training from 4:30 to 5:30 pm and will train twice on Sunday as they add finishing touches to their tactics for the game against the United States.
www.thisdaylive.com/articles/okon-tips-falcons-for-q-final/212051/

coach okon talks too much...let his work speak for him. If he aint making silly statements,he is turning the ladies into religous fanatics.

God is not a Nigerian,Okon abeg do ur work!

BascoVanVeli:
Look we can't blame our ladies they simply got tired u can't expect them to play 90 minutes with no subs then come back and perform u could even see it at the end when the game ended with 3 minutes left to play none of the girls protested they just wanted the game to end. Also that ref ruined us she gave our midfielder and defender yellow cards for nothing therefore taking away their edge. We need to be like Tunisia and complain kicking and screaming when we are wronged cuz nobody is going to speak up for us.

I think I quite agree with you.


Also our Coaches need to upgrade themselves technically and tactically. We are lacking these at most tournaments.


#Dream On while you still can!!!

dodobytes:
coach okon talks too much...let his work speak for him. If he aint making silly statements,he is turning the ladies into religous fanatics.

God is not a Nigerian, Okon abeg do ur work!

Nigerians and religion hahahahahahaha. We always want God to favour us even when our opponents prepare and perform better than us.
#GodisnotaNigerian# chaiiii!

Images of Superfalcons and Coast Coal Harbour Hotel, Vancouver.

Na training Okon wan use finish these girls ooo. I will quote an excerpt from a USA newssite about Super falcons.
''Another major factor worth bringing up when discussing Tuesday's game is fitness. In their second Group D match of the competition, Nigeria looked sluggish in the waning moments of their 2-0 loss to Australia.''

''Nigeria hurt themselves by not using any substitutes against Sweden, and it seems like the treacherous nature of the artificial turf and the short time in between games limited them against the Matildas.''

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2495331-is-starting-tobin-heath-the-true-answer-to-the-uswnts-attacking-problems
I wonder if Okon has scouts. He is burning out these girls and its painful!!

As the Super Falcons prepare to face USA tomorrow in a make or mar match at the ongoing Canada 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup Courtney Dike has revealed that she knows the American team well having watch a good number of players in her development as a football.

According to the striker, it will be a tough battle but hopefully they can win.

‘ There are a lot of players am familiar with on that team and that I grew up watching and it’ll be definitely exciting to step on the pitch to play them and show what I can do.


Christen Press of United States of America celebrates scoring a goal during the FIFA Women’s World Cup.(Getty)
Am looking forward to it, its going to be a great game for sure, intense, a battle and the best of the best, its all you can ask for as a player. It’ll be great and hopefully we get a great result.’

Till Okon go kill person pickin with heavy training e nor go hear word...lol

BascoVanVeli:
Look we can't blame our ladies they simply got tired u can't expect them to play 90 minutes with no subs then come back and perform u could even see it at the end when the game ended with 3 minutes left to play none of the girls protested they just wanted the game to end. Also that ref ruined us she gave our midfielder and defender yellow cards for nothing therefore taking away their edge. We need to be like Tunisia and complain kicking and screaming when we are wronged cuz nobody is going to speak up for us.

This 90-minutes talk is a hogwash. The team had four or three days to recuperate. Besides, there are players on the Matildas side that played the same 90 minutes without being substituted. Nigerians in particular and Africans in general are full of it. We know that each time our teams take the field against a European team and officials are Europeans, officiating will weigh heavily against us. Instead of Nigerians using their head during the match, they tend to get loaded with silly sentiments while chasing individual glory.

Duru1:


This 90-minutes talk is a hogwash. The team had four or three days to recuperate. Besides, there are players on the Matildas side that played the same 90 minutes without being substituted. Nigerians in particular and Africans in general are full of it. We know that each time our teams take the field against a European team and officials are Europeans, officiating will weigh heavily against us. Instead of Nigerians using their head during the match, they tend to get loaded with silly sentiments while chasing individual glory.

And in those days, do you know that the team trained twice a day? Wont remind you that training is more tasking than the match itself.

Oshoala: I want us to play like Real Madrid
Asisat Oshoala has had a pretty spectacular 12 months by anyone’s standards. The Ikorodu native took home both the adidas Golden Ball and the Golden Boot at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Canada 2014 en route to a second-place finish with the Super Falconets in August of last year; while just last week she scored in her senior Women’s World Cup debut.

In between those feats, ‘Superzee’, as she is known by her team-mates, signed for Liverpool and earned the BBC’s Women’s Footballer of the Year Award, while also picking up the CAF young and senior player prizes. Add in becoming a Member of the Order of the Niger, an honour bestowed upon the 20-year-old by her nation’s president and it would be safe to assume that Oshoala is content with how things are going at the moment!

And you would be wrong. Despite all of the accolades she has recently earned and the attention she has received from all corners of the planet, Nigeria’s No8 has been finding it difficult to enjoy herself during her first Women’s World Cup so far. That is not to say Canada 2015 has yet to be a worthwhile experience for the young starlet, though.

“I have learned a lot of things about myself as a player,” Oshoala told FIFA.com after her team’s 2-0 loss to Australia. At times during the U-20 Women’s World Cup last summer it seemed almost impossibly easy for Oshoala to find the back of the net. But as the young starlet quickly pointed out, that is simply not the case at Canada 2015.

“This is a big tournament with much stronger competition. When you play at the under-age tournament, and then you come to the senior World Cup, you see it’s much harder. So, you just have to adapt to it.

“My style of play can’t always be the same. I need to find different ways to change my attacking patterns so I can get behind the backline.”

Triple threat
That is a lesson Oshoala duly learned after the Super Falcons’ loss to Australia, where she and her fellow forwards rarely threatened the Matildas’ goal. After a wildly entertaining 3-3 draw where Oshoala scored Nigeria’s second and presented herself as a constant threat to Sweden, the No8 found herself frustrated against Australia.

“I would say Sweden actually made it very hard for us,” explained Oshoala. “Australia I think were an easier opponent. We were unlucky not to get the goals we needed. But it doesn’t matter; we have to be better, no matter what.”

If coach Edwin Okon can get his front three - Oshoala is usually featured up top alongside the talents of Desire Oparanozie and Ngozi Okobi – firing on all cylinders in time for Tuesday’s big test against a tough USA side, the Super Falcons may just be able to soar into the knockout stages, something Nigeria have only done once before, at USA 1999.

Oshoala believes she and her team-mates have what it takes to reach the Round of 16, and as she explains with a smile on her face she would like to emulate the style of a certain attacking trio known the world over.

“I want us to play like Real Madrid’s forwards!” Oshoala says through her laughter. “They’re very, very good, Benzema, Ronaldo and Gareth Bale.

“We can be similar to them and I’d like us to play just like them as much as possible. As a front three we can be very dangerous and if we try to be like them, we’ll go very far in this tournament!"