Super Falcons: Ngozi Okobi insists she is better than Toni Payne and should have featured at the World Cup

The FIFA Women’s World Cup may have ended, but reactions have continued to trail the performance of the Super Falcons of Nigeria.

Nigeria’s attacking midfielder Ngozi Okobi who didn’t make the squad for the tournament, feels her experience would have seen Nigeria over the line against Sarina Wiegman’s side. 

According to her, the Nigerian team was lacking that creative spark in the midfield and she would have provided that if she were selected for the tournament.

"I'm not saying that they miss me. I missed myself, I would use that word instead. I missed myself in such games because that's the kind of games I play and play very well.

“Why did I say so? I'm not trying to brag here. I'm not trying to call myself one of the best, but I feel like Super Falcons still need a player like me in their team.

“We still haven't gotten a creative player. I might not be the strongest player on earth to be in that team, but I have talent that I don't think anyone could replace right now. So, they lack that.”

The Lioness of England were oozing confidence after thrashing China 6-1 in their last group game, conceding just once in all the three group games which they won. 

Toni Payne served as the main creative outlet for the Super Falcons, but Ngozi Okobi feels Payne does not have what it takes yet to turn up in big games or replace a player of her calibre. 

Ngozi Okobi said in addition to the many games Toni Payne had played, she didn’t have the legs against a determined England.

“Toni Payne did her best. I commended her effort a lot and I wrote, I told her, girl, you did great.

“She tried her best, but she's not up to that standard yet. She's a very good player and with time, she'll get there. That's one thing I know."

Coach Randy Waldrum had to stick with Toni Payne in the middle of the park for majority of the games as his side was short of options in midfield after Deborah Abiodun was shown a straight red card in Nigeria’s opening game. 

Nigeria’s Performance  at the Women’s World Cup 

The Super Falcons were playing in the their ninth consecutive edition of the football fiesta and Coach Randy Waldrum’s side gave a good account of themselves.

Randy Waldrum’s troop avoided defeat in a group dubbed the group of death comprising Canada, Australia, and the Republic of Ireland.

Nigeria earned a huge win against the Matildas, either side of a goalless draw with Canada and the Republic of Ireland.

Up next, the Super Falcons squared up against the Lioness of England, and after 120 minutes of football, nothing could separate the sides despite England playing with a man down for over half an hour.

It took the lotteries of penalties to settle the tie, with England winning 4-2. Reacting after the defeat, Ngozi Okobi, during an interview on X spaces with Osasuo Obayiuwana said Randy Waldrum was mistaken not to have selected her among his 23 squad members.

From the transcript of the interview by Debola Adebanjo, it was gathered that Ngozi Okobi feels she would have been the game changer especially going into the final quarter with England already tiring out.

What should Randy Waldrum have done differently? 

Ngozi Okobi is of the opinion that coach Randy Waldrum should have started Echegini in the game against England, with Toni Payne getting a well-deserved rest.

She said Toni Payne should have come in as a late substitute in the tie against England. That way, she would have done a lot of damage to the Lioness' defense. 

“Going to last 20 minutes in that game, I know I would bring in what I have. I am not a strong player. I am not the perfect player, but I have experience and I know how to play football.

“So, me not being there, I'm not trying to be selfish about that, because definitely I would leave that place someday. It's not my father's house. It's a place that everyone comes and goes.

“But I expected Randy to have the, Echegini girl on the field because first time saw her play, I said, okay, she could try.

“She's a good player. I expected her to be on the field, on that game, like from the beginning, because Tony was tired.

“Tony needed a break. She was tired, they needed to bring in someone else.

And that kind of game, if you had brought Tony later in the game, When the England had that red card, it would have been like a win win win for Nigeria. And having those kind of changes, it was so quick to make changes. I think. They should have waited.

Final Thoughts

While 29-year-old Ngozi Okobi is well within her rights to feel aggrieved that she wasn't included in the squad that featured in New Zealand and Australia, no one can fault the contribution of Coach Waldrum and the team he selected.

The Super Falcons midfield did miss some creative spark that Ngozi Okobi would have supplied in abundance. However, Nigeria's midfield trio of Ayinde, Payne, and Ucheibe were arguably among the very best on display at the FIFA Women's World Cup.

Should Ngozi Okobi have made the cut ahead of 40-year-old Onome Ebi, who was in line to make history at her sixth World Cup? Also, Ngozi making the team would have meant that someone else would have missed out.

In the end, it was the coach's decision to make, and he decided to go with a team he believed could help achieve his aim. Was he wrong in leaving Ngozi Okobi out? Maybe, maybe not.