The Nigerian female U-20 team were unable to secure a win at the Cape Coast Stadium in Ghana as their dreams of a gold medal crashed before their eyes, losing 1-2 to Gold Coast in the final of the 13th African Games.
Loveth Edeh put the Falconets in front after profiting from a goalkeeping error by Ghana’s goalkeeper, Afi Amenyeku. Tracy Twum scored to cancel out Edeh’s opener and take the game to extra time where a long shot from Mukarama Abdullahi sealed the win for Ghana’s Black Princesses.
Soccernet.ng rates the performance of the Super Falconets as they lost the African Games final to the Black Princesses of Ghana.
1. Faith Omilana 6/10: The young goalkeeper was barely called into action, and could not have done much for the first goal she conceded. She was taken off at the end of the ninety due to what looked like a struggle with foot cramps, and was replaced by Anderline Mgbechi.
2. Jumoke Alani 6.5/10: The stand-in captain on the night. Alani had a decent performance and was tidy with possession at the back. She also had a chance to score from a corner kick, but the resulting header was always rising.
3. Oluwabunmi Oladeji 6.5/10: Just like her partner at the heart of the Falconets defence, Oluwabunmi cleared where necessary and didn’t fold under pressure. She was replaced by Okenwa in extra time.
4. Shukurat Oladipo 6/10: The right-back had a decent game, but her lapse in concentration allowed Ghana the space to score the equalizer late in the second half. She had made an overlapping run, leaving Tracy Twum unmarked.
5. Chidera Okenwa 6/10: Her overlapping runs from the left encouraged the Super Eagles to build up properly from the flank, but she was also caught out of position a few times.
6. Chioma Olise 6.5/10: The midfielder aided in breaking up play for the Falconets. She put her body on the line as he took several hits. Her set-piece deliveries too were on par, but the team could not make the most of it.
7. Adoo Yina 6/10: Yina was a menace in the first half of the game, constantly running at defenders on the right flank. She got tired as the game went on and couldn’t offer much.
8. Blessing Okpe 5.5/10: The Rivers Angels forward struggled to get going and could not keep up with the physicality of the game.
9. Loveth Edeh 7/10: Edeh’s goal showed her composure in front of goal. She got into promising positions several times despite playing out of position and could have had more to her name on the night if she was more clinical.
10. Adaobi Okah 6.6/10: The attacking midfielder was impressive in the first half, but faded with time in the game as she barely got the ball into her feet.
11. Delight Isaac 4/10: The striker barely got involved and was replaced by Chiamaka Okuchukwu in the early minutes of the second half.
Substitutes
Chiamaka Okuchukwu 5/10: Okuchukwu didn’t get into the rhythm of the game, just like the striker she came on to replace. She had just one chance and it was a scramble.
Anderline Mgbechi 5/10: Came on for the injured Omilana at the end of ninety minutes. She made a decent save from a deflection to deny the Ghanaians, and could perhaps have been more secure at her near-post to prevent the second goal from Mukarama Abdullahi.
Chidera Okenwa: Replaced the tired Oluwabunmi Oladeji in extra time but didn’t have any notable impact.