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With starlet Deborah Abiodun set to miss the Super Falcons' second group game against Australia, here are three important reasons why Nigeria will struggle without her
During their opening Women’s World Cup game against Canada, the Super Falcons of Nigeria unearthed a gem in Rivers Angels’ Deborah Abiodun.
Still only 19 years old, the midfielder took to the daunting occasion like a duck to water after replacing the suspended Halimatu Ayinde but sadly Abiodun had her World Cup debut cut short by a late red card that means she misses the second group game against co-hosts Australia.
Abiodun’s absence was not one that many followers would have imagined would be so important against Australia, but after her showing in the opening game against Canada, there are three key reasons why the 19-year-old’s absence could be a key problem for the Super Falcons.
Abiodun excelled in tackling against Canada
One of the main reasons that Abiodun earned comparisons to the French World Cup winner was her ability to win the ball back for the Super Falcons against Canada.
The 19-year-old midfielder was in stunning form, winning more tackles than anybody on the pitch in Nigeira’s opener with five successful challenges. This also meant that she ranked join-third for the most tackles won in the opening round of the group stages.
She showed how adept she was at facing dribblers, winning four of five defensive duels against opponents attempting to get past her. An outstanding 80% success rate against attempted dribbles, which was better than any Super Falcons player who faced two or more take ons.
Her ability to shield the back four and stifle opponents’ opportunities with superb tackling will certainly be missed when she sits out the Australia fixture.
Abiodun's Industry against Canada was unmatched
Being just 19 years old, Abiodun showed boundless energy and covered the middle and defensive third of the pitch, making crucial interventions to keep the Super Falcons in the game.
She made the most recoveries during Nigeria’s match against Canada (11) before getting sent off, with the next-best Super Falcons players, Ifeoma Onumonu and Ashleigh Plumptre, making eight each.
She also showed her willingness to put her body on the line for the cause, making more blocks on the day than any other Super Falcons player on the pitch during her superb FIFA World Cup debut.
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Depending on how her replacement in midfield fairs, her absence could cause the similarly hardworking Christie Ucheibe some problems since they formed a cohesive and energetic base for the Super Falcons’ midfield.
Super Falcons will be facing a more dynamic midfield against Australia
Despite the presence of established stars like Christine Sinclair, Juventus’ Julia Grosso, and OL Reign’s Quinn in midfield for Canada in the opening game, the Super Falcons were able to cope with a degree of comfort, thanks in part to the static nature of their opponents’ midfield in transitions.
The Canadian midfielders struggled to break down the Super Falcons, as they also had a rigid structure that hardly saw players move out of position or attempt to take on their opponents in central areas to progress play.
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Australia, on the other hand, have a midfield duo in Katrina Gorry and Kyra Cooney-Cross who are willing to drag man-markers out of position with their movement as well as use take ons to beat the opposition’s midfield press. Something Canada were unwilling to do.
Canada’s midfielders appear ball shy compared to the Australians, with Quinn, the most active participant registering only 69 passes compared to Gorry who registered 83 and was also the Matilda’s most potent dribbler with four dribbles completed from attempts, all in central areas.
To take on a midfield with that amount of movement and inventiveness requires one or more industrious midfielders to stifle the opponents’ creativity.
While in Ucheibe, the Super Falcons possess one, without Abiodun they could lack more, leaving the prospect of facing Australia’s tricky Matildas a troublesome one without her.
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