Catching Up (U20s World Cup)



Oshoala takes the spoils (Golden Boot and Golden Ball) at the U20 World Cup

Catching Up

So I figured I should write about the different headlines that have happened in the women’s game since I took my irrelevant sabbatical -or not- from blogging. So I’ll start at the Women’s U20s!

The U20 World Cup was a joy to watch, especially for me, Nigeria made it to the final but it ended in the most painful fashion for me, we fell to Germany 1-0 having made more chances than them and we even had the ball in the back of the net once but it was ruled out for offside due to huge inexperience from the number 7, Ayila, who by the way had a good game.

Nigeria could only blame themselves really, the star of the tournament, Asisat Oshoala, had a glorious chance to put the Super Falconets ahead way early in normal time, she beat the German keeper, Kramer and had the whole goal to finish, but she underrated the situation and used her weaker foot, when she really could have shown more composure on the day, her finish was abysmal in the end.

The Germans were always dangerous on the ball, every time they had the possession, I had the thought that they knew what they wanted to do it. The technicality that Sara Daebrtiz, Pauline Bremer and Theresa Panfill have at this age is quite something, but somehow Nigeria’s strength managed to match that, strength and resilience and we weren’t bad technique-wise as well.

We finally had the ball in the German net in the dying minutes of normal time, Asisat Oshoala struck quite a shot at Kramer which ratcheted off her someway to her back, she wasn’t in goal and just 2 German defenders were scrambling for cover, young striker, Ihenzuo, made an effort to head the ball, successful attempt and it was entering…until Ayila made sure with a shot to confirm the goal, only to see the lineswoman raise her flag.

I was so mad, I already knew that was what it would result to, Ihezuo was onside when Oshoala’s shot came off Kramer, and her effort would have counted but Ayila was way offside during the incident and her strike really didn’t do any favors for the side.

There’s still debates on if it was a legit goal or not, the replay shows the ball crossing the line before Ayila’s shot, but that’s asking too much of the officials even though most times, the officiating can be crazy in women’s football, especially the youth tournaments.

In the end, Nigeria paid the price for every chance they wasted in the worst way possible, defender Oguchi had looked suspect throughout the game and finally she got caught in possession in a very dangerous area, the ball was cut back to Lena Petermann, who scored the goal against France in the semis to advance Germany into the finals, she finished it calmly, nothing the Nigerian goalkeeper could do as Germany celebrated in the 1st half of extra time.

Nigeria had opportunities to get back into the game but you just have that feeling in football when you know you are going to end up on the losing side, I was hoping for an equalizer and never gave up on one, but it didn’t come.

Final whistle: Nigeria 0-1 Germany.

It was heartbreaking really, the Nigerian youth side or ‘Super Falconets’ rather, were on the verge of creating history, no African team had won the U20 World Cup at both the men’s and women’s level, it looked like it really might have happened but it did not.

However there were a few positives, Asisat Oshoala got the golden ball and golden boot award, she had just finished crying at the other side of the pitch so she couldn’t really manage a smile with those awards, but that aside, I’m really excited about the future of the Nigerian women’s senior team as it looks very bright.

Sure, we are the best African side hands down, having won our Nation’s Continental Cup a record number of times, that I’ve lost count (exaggerating…I think 6 times out of 7), but we haven’t really done much on the global stage. I’ve heard remarks about how we play, I once heard a ‘99er’ talk about how good an opponent we are and she’s encountered quite a lot of struggle playing against us (although the USA flogged us in 99…but,) I feel we’ve always had that talent.

Asisat Oshoala looks like a very creative attacker that could really be World Class, like majority of the golden ball winners at the U20 World Cups in time past and I really hope she makes an impression with the senior team (which she has already) but on the global stage, alongside our present hit striker, Desire Oparanozie, and advance from Rivers Angels club side in Nigeria to an European or NWSL team, club career wise, I mean she already has her own Adidas Advert people! She’s that good! (Watch! link here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tl6whJtKeBE)

Hopefully we can advance into the knockout stages next year in Canada, because I have no doubts that we would reach the group stages, the only thing that could prevent us from doing that is the Nigerian Football Governing body (which I might have to write about much later,) but for now, we are solid.

Also what a tournament by France, Claire Lagovez really captured hearts at the tourney, that goal against Costa Rica might very well be a FIFA Puskas Winner! Mbock-Bathy is unlike any defender I have ever seen at the youth level since Kim Kulig of Germany in 2010 and France really have a bright future, almost everyone was brilliant.

As for Germany, well I can’t even say much, Daebritz, Panfill and Bremer had a total of 13 goals and 10 assists, outstanding really. It’s just like English legendary striker, Gary Lineker once said, ‘Football is a simple game; 22 players chase a ball for 90 minutes and at the end, the Germans always win.’