Coach of the Super Falcons, Thomas Dennerby, has identified the two players who impressed him the most with their performances at the recently concluded Africa Women’s Cup of Nations (AWCON) in Ghana which Nigeria won. The Super Falcons beat South Africa’s Banyana Banyana via penalties to lift the title for a record ninth time.

While the Nigeria squad had the likes of star striker Asisat Oshoala as well as Francisca Ordega, Rasheedat Ajibade and Rita Chikwelu, it was Rivers Angels goalkeeper, Tochukwu Oluehi, and Eskilstuna United DFF newbie, Halimatu Ayinde, he named as the two most outstanding players at AWCON. While Oluehi was named in CAF’s ceremonial Team of the Tournament, the decision to omit Ayinde from the Best XI was unpopular as she was seen as the best outfield player in the squad.

“I think Halimat had a good tournament, Tochokwu had a good tournament in goal, all the defending line played well,” coach Dennerby. He continued, “I don’t think that we really had one player that was really outstanding, I think we had high standard of many players, more than one that was totally outstanding. When it comes to the World Cup or Olympics, you need one player, to have the best tournament of her life.”

The Swedish coach went on, “If we are lucky, it could be one of the forwards, because if we have the forwards in extremely top form, it’s likely to be a successful team. But this time I think it was more about the team, but Halimat and Tochukwu, were the ones who played at highest level throughout the five games.”