Nigeria’s Win Makes History
Nigeria Coach Ismaila Mabo may not be aware of the notion that it’s generally best not to say anything that will end up on opponents’ bulletin boards and provide motivation.
Even if he knew of such conventional coaches’ wisdom, it probably wouldn’t have mattered to him Sunday, so great was his delight after Nigeria defeated Denmark, 2-0, and became the first African nation to advance to the quarterfinals of the Women’s World Cup.
Recalling the sting of his team’s earlier 7-1 loss to the U.S., Mabo declared his players have reassembled their game and their confidence and are capable of great things. Nigeria, the runner-up in Group A with a 2-1 record, will return to Jack Kent Cooke Stadium on Thursday to play Group B winner Brazil.
“In 1995, we lost our first match to Norway, and at the end Norway was the champion,” Mabo said. “I will not be surprised if this team, with God on its side, shall qualify to the finals and play the U.S. and have revenge . . .
“I know the style of Brazil and I’m going to present a very good strategy to counter. We shall do our best to win the match against Brazil Thursday.”
Standout Mercy Akide scored for Nigeria in the 25th minute after drawing Danish goalkeeper Dorthe Larsen off her line, and Nkiru Okosieme set off cheers from the many Nigerian fans in the crowd of 22,109 in the 81st minute when she pounced on a ball Danish defender Jeanne Axelsen couldn’t control and sent it past Larsen.
It was a dark day for injury-depleted but still disappointing Denmark (0-3), which scored only one goal in the tournament. “I am disappointed in our results and our play,” Coach Jorgen Hvidemose said.
