There was a fracas that ensued during Nigeria's 3rd round CAF Women's Olympic qualification encounter against Cameroon.
The melee occurred due to a player of Cameroon trying to plant “voodoo” inside the Super Falcons goalpost.
Chiamaka Nnadozie's impressive display in the game, producing heroic saves left them frantic, and that resulted in the Cameroonians making theatrical runs to the goalpost of Nigeria.
Fortunately, Asisat Oshoala and Nnadozie alongside other Nigerian players thwarted the efforts of Cameroon's Annie Enganemben and prevented her from touching the net and possibly planting what she attempted to put into the net.
Chiamaka Nnadozie was superb on the day, displaying her artistry in goal and showing why she currently holds the CAF Women's Goalkeeper of the Year award.
The 23-year-old, who is regarded as one of the best female goalkeepers in Africa and one of the best in the world, kept the Indomitable Lionesses at bay over two legs - in Douala and Abuja.
Nigeria's Esther Okoronkwo scored the decisive goal of the heated affair in the 14th minute, tapping the ball home from close range after she was set up by Jennifer Echegini.
Echegini did some nifty footwork at the edge of the area before setting free Esther, who completed the job.
Nigeria had played out a nil-nil draw in the first leg, with Esther Okoronkwo's goal in Douala, Cameroon being dismissed for offside, which left many stunned.
Speaking after the second leg, regarding the incident which occurred in the dying embers of the clash played in Abuja, Super Falcons' Deborah Abiodun said:
“We kind of saw it as a point of distraction in the game and were able to keep our focus high, regardless of whatever they believed in.
“We believe in God and in God, we stand and put our trust. With God all things are possible. So, we don’t care about the voodoo.”
“Voodoo” will remain one topical conversation for the coming years as it has been an age-long debate, with many wondering if it could actually affect the cause of a football game.
Some dismiss stories of “Voodoo's” efficacy in football, expressing that if it does work, an African country would have won the World Cup.
Meanwhile, there have also been several videos that have left many bemused and indecisive about the conversation.
Super Falcons manager Randy Waldrum said he was alien to the incident and he has never seen anything as such in the past.
He said: “Yes it is true. I have never seen it before but our players wouldn’t let them in our goal to use it.”
Moreover, Nigeria have a date with South Africa in April 2024, in the final round of the CAF Women's Olympic qualifiers, which will decide which nation will represent the continent at the 2024 Summer Olympics to be hosted by Paris from July 26, 2024, to August 11, 2024.
The melee occurred due to a player of Cameroon trying to plant “voodoo” inside the Super Falcons goalpost.
Chiamaka Nnadozie's impressive display in the game, producing heroic saves left them frantic, and that resulted in the Cameroonians making theatrical runs to the goalpost of Nigeria.
Fortunately, Asisat Oshoala and Nnadozie alongside other Nigerian players thwarted the efforts of Cameroon's Annie Enganemben and prevented her from touching the net and possibly planting what she attempted to put into the net.
Chiamaka Nnadozie was superb on the day, displaying her artistry in goal and showing why she currently holds the CAF Women's Goalkeeper of the Year award.
The 23-year-old, who is regarded as one of the best female goalkeepers in Africa and one of the best in the world, kept the Indomitable Lionesses at bay over two legs - in Douala and Abuja.
Nigeria's Esther Okoronkwo scored the decisive goal of the heated affair in the 14th minute, tapping the ball home from close range after she was set up by Jennifer Echegini.
Echegini did some nifty footwork at the edge of the area before setting free Esther, who completed the job.
Nigeria had played out a nil-nil draw in the first leg, with Esther Okoronkwo's goal in Douala, Cameroon being dismissed for offside, which left many stunned.
Speaking after the second leg, regarding the incident which occurred in the dying embers of the clash played in Abuja, Super Falcons' Deborah Abiodun said:
“We kind of saw it as a point of distraction in the game and were able to keep our focus high, regardless of whatever they believed in.
“We believe in God and in God, we stand and put our trust. With God all things are possible. So, we don’t care about the voodoo.”
“Voodoo” will remain one topical conversation for the coming years as it has been an age-long debate, with many wondering if it could actually affect the cause of a football game.
Some dismiss stories of “Voodoo's” efficacy in football, expressing that if it does work, an African country would have won the World Cup.
Meanwhile, there have also been several videos that have left many bemused and indecisive about the conversation.
Super Falcons manager Randy Waldrum said he was alien to the incident and he has never seen anything as such in the past.
He said: “Yes it is true. I have never seen it before but our players wouldn’t let them in our goal to use it.”
Moreover, Nigeria have a date with South Africa in April 2024, in the final round of the CAF Women's Olympic qualifiers, which will decide which nation will represent the continent at the 2024 Summer Olympics to be hosted by Paris from July 26, 2024, to August 11, 2024.