The Super Falcons held Canada to a goalless draw in their FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 opener despite ending the game with 10 players.
Nigeria struggled to break the North Americans and a penalty save by Chiamaka Nnadozie in the 48th minute and Deborah Abiodun’s expulsion in the 97th minute stood as highlights.
Randy Waldrum’s ladies dropped in Group B table after picking a point from the Melbourne Rectangular Stadium while Australia lead with three points following their 1-0 victory against Republic of Ireland on Thursday.
Afrosport rates the performances of the every player that featured for Nigeria against Canada on Friday morning.
Chiamaka Nnadozie – 10/10
Led the team by example with everything on the pitch. The penalty save in the second-half was the icing on the cake for her excellent performance.
Nnadozie’s clean sheet and a penalty save earned her all the points.
Osinachi Ohale – 8/10
The 31-year-old’s experience was glaring as she co-ordinated the backline brilliantly in the absence of captain Onome Ebi.
Ohale made six vital clearances when Canada were lurking around in the Super Falcons penalty area.
Oluwatosin Demehin – 7/10
The Stade de Reims defender showed composure whenever Canada attackers threaten for a goal and she had a promising partnership with Ohale.
However, Demehin almost had herself to blame when she made a poor pass that resulted in a quick counter attack for Canada in the second-half.
Michelle Alozie – 6/10
Alozie was the most dispossessed Nigeria player in the game (lost the ball three times). She had her flaws but she was ultimately able to keep things tidy on the right flanks.
Ashleigh Plumptre – 7/10
Plumptre was on point with her defensive job but the Leicester City star could have made more contributions to the Super Falcons’ attacking play, rather than just sit back.
Deborah Abiodun – 7/10
The 19-year-old had a remarkable outing on the biggest stage of women’s football. Abiodun made the most tackles in the Melbourne Rectangular Stadium but the last-minute red card was a stain on her white linen.
Christy Ucheibe – 8/10
Ucheibe can be described as the engine room of the Super Falcons against Canada. She was everywhere in the midfield.
She registered 24 passes in the game (behind Abiodun’s 31 passes) and she also made the most blocks in Randy Waldrum’s team – three blocks.
Toni Payne – 7/10
Payne completes the industrious midfield set-up and contributed immensely to switching Nigeria’s attacking play.
She completed the most dribbles for the Super Falcons (four successful dribbles) and she made the most crosses (five).
Francisca Ordega – 5/10
Struggled to flow with the rhythm of the game. She dropped to defensive duties most times and she had no contribution to the attack before her replacement in the 72nd minute.
Ordega also committed the foul that resulted in Canada’s penalty in the second half.
Ifeoma Onumonu – 6/10
The US-based forward gave Nigeria their only shot on target in the 22nd minute of the game.
She threatened Canada’s defence the most with four shots and she also contributed to defence with her three interceptions.
Asisat Oshoala – 5/10
Much was expected from the five-time African Women’s Footballer of the Year but she appeared rusty in front of goal.
Oshoala did not register a shot on target before going off in the 90th minute.
Uchenna Kanu – 7/10
Kanu’s introduction in the 72nd minute brought more energy to the team and she won two free-kicks within 18 minutes – the most by any player in the game.
