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 FIFA U-20
Women’s World Cup 2010 Finals:
Praise for Africa’s
Representative (Nigeria)
As they win World cup silver medals
- an African
Events Report
Despite an overwhelming home support and fans cheering
the host nation Germany at the 2010 U-20 Women world cup in Germany, the
Nigerian team was undaunted and went ahead to put up a strongly spirited
game that made the final a tense game till the end of regulation time.
Even the scorecard has both teams with 5 corner kicks each but the
Nigerian Falconets with more ball possession at 54% to Germany’s 46%.
The Nigerian team played a calm and calculated game that saw them
possessing and distributing the ball so efficiently that the sold out
stadium of German vociferous fans were almost silenced on their home
turf. However, lack of a clinical finisher deprived the Nigerians of a
better result.
So, when the German top scorer Alexandra Popp managed to put the ball
behind Nigeria’s goal keeper – Jonathan Alaba off a dangerous pass into
the eighteen yard box, some thought the Nigerians would be run over as
many pundits have suggested before the game that the final would be a
one sided game. But the Nigerians proved the pundits wrong and managed
to keep the crowd out of the game for the most part of the regulation
time. However, fate was not on the side of a Nigerian victory as a
German header off a corner kick hit the bar and then softly bounced off
the body of a Nigerian defender into Nigeria’s net to make it 2-0
advantage Germany and therefore sealed the victory for the Germans who
thereby won their second women’s world cup.
Nigeria’s journey through to the finals game was not an easy one as they
had to beat defending champions who were the defending champions at the
quarter finals level and South American Champions, Columbia at the
semi-final level. It is worthy of note that this achievement was under a
Nigerian head coach, Ndem Egan (not a foreign coach). The impressive run
of the Nigerian team in the tournament was a thing of pride for
Nigerians in particular and Africans in general. Nevertheless, it is a
surprising or significant development to many considering that about a
month ago, President Jonathan Goodluck of Nigeria had banned the
country’s football teams from further participation in international
football for two years due to the dismal performance by the male
national football team at the last world cup in South Africa. A decision
that was rescinded after many Nigerians and even FIFA called on the
President to reconsider his action, arguing that Nigeria could learn and
improve by participation than by abstaining from international football
competition for the next two years.
By this achievement, Nigeria becomes the first African team to reach the
final game and win a medal in a FIFA Women World Cup tournament. For
their efforts the Nigerian Presidency is organizing a grand welcome for
the Falconets. Perhaps this is a sign of many good things to come, if
only and only if.
See related article –
The Impact of
Nigerianism: Why Nigeria Women U-20 football team made it to Female
World Cup final (less than a month after dismal performance by the male
team in South Africa).
ABOUT
THE AUTHOR:Oliver O.
Mbamara, Esq., is a filmmaker, writer, poet, and playwright. He is also a
judge with New York State, OAH. For
more on Oliver Mbamara, please visit www.OliverMbamara.com
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