Paris 2024: Juju-like drama, mere distraction, says Abiodun

Super Falcons midfield maestro Deborah Abiodun says the juju-like drama that unfolded in their match against Cameroon was a mere distraction by their opponents.

Supreme News reports that the nine-time African champions, the Super Falcons, pipped Cameroon’s Lionesses 1-0 in a crucial second-leg women’s Olympic football qualifier after a pulsating encounter in Abuja.

There was, however, a little drama that unfolded at the start of the second half inside the Moshood Abiola National Stadium.

This was after a Cameroonian player attempted to plant juju-like material at the Super Falcons’ goal post.

It was a move probably targeted at Nigeria’s goalkeeper, Chiamaka Nnadozie, who had kept the Cameroonians at bay in Douala and Abuja.

The attempt was, however, checkmated, and possibly the efficacy of the charm was diluted as Nnadozie prevented the Lionesses from breaching her goal.

Abiodun told newsmen during a post-match conference that the move by the visitors was a tactics deployed to distract the Falcons.

She however said that it failed to yield any positive result for the Cameroonians as the Falcons were fully focused.

“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 believe 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,” she said.

She said that it was a great privilege for her and her colleagues to be part of the team.

The Pittsburg Panthers midfielder was in full flow in the middle of the park.

Crisp with her movements, hard to shake off the ball, and always looking for forward passes.

Her dominance waned after Christy Ucheibe was drafted back to the defence following an injury to centre-back Oluwatosin Demehin.