By Amaechi Agbo

The Nigeria Football Federation, NFF have singled out Dijon of France attacker Desire Oparanozie as the black sheep and poor player who put every feet wrong in Super Falcons 4-2 thrashing by South Africa in the final match of the Aisha Buhari Women’s Football Tournament in Lagos, www.bestchoicesports.com.ng can report

Awful, lazy Super Falcons conceded three goals in the first half to hand the Bayana Bayana ladies control of affairs in the match on Tuesday.

Although they put in spirited efforts in the second half to score too goals but two penalties and an own goal by defender Michelle Alozie conspired to hand South Africa’s Banyana Banyana victory over the Super Falcons in the final match of the maiden edition of Aisha Buhari Invitational Tournament at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Lagos on Tuesday

Despite having in defence, a 38-year old Onome Ebi who was slow and reactive rather proactive in the backline and also conceded a stupid amateur penalty in the first half, the NFF singled out Oparanozie as the escapegoat.

The NFF described the South Africa’s trident attackers, who tore apart Falcons defence with ease, this way: “Youthful, skilful and ambitious, the Banyana looked like they could score with every onslaught on the Nigerian goal, and it took the introduction of four younger players into the Nigerian squad at the start of the second period for the fans to have something to cheer about their own team.

“Kgatlana, with her pace, guile and invention, and Jane Refiloe, Melinda Kgadiete and Hildah Magaia left the nine-time African champions the worse for wear after a horrendous 45 minutes at the MJA,” in their press release after the match.

However, while they could not question the presence of 38 years old woman in Super Falcons rearguard, they find easy and cheap holes in Dijon of France attacker, Desire Oparanozie.

This is how the NFF, through its communication department, described the former captain of the team’s performance against the South Africans.

“France-based forward Desire Oparanozie was most awful on the evening, squandering a half-dozen opportunities, easily conceding possession and literally playing against her own team.

“The bright lights for Nigeria as the climate became overcast in the second half were Gift Monday, Opeyemi Sunday and Vivian Ikechukwu, who all came into the game after half time and underscored boldly what youth might be able to speak to that the old guard might not

“The Super Falcons created chance after chance, but Oparanozie wasted them all, choosing a big day to put every foot wrong, and shockingly, lasting the entire 90 minutes on the park.”

It could be recalled that Oparanozie had a head injury in their first match against Mali which the team laboured to win 2-0 courtesy of Monday Gift’s brace in the second half.

After the injury, Oparanozie vowed to fight for her fatherland in sweat and blood.

“Fighting through in my youth, for father land, sweat and blood. Appreciation to the medical team for being on deck hands on”, she posted on social media.

Canada based Nigeria sports journalist, Adewale Ajayi lashed out on the NFF over the insensitive comment about Desire Oparanozie stressing that such has rubbished the intention of the tournament and devasted the midfielder who had put everything to serve her fatherland since 2010 she made her debut for the Falcons.

“Nigerians, please see what Olajire of the NFF Communication department wrote on Oparanozie after today’s (Tuesday’s) match

“This is a knock on the whole intention of the Aisha Buhari Cup which is encouraging the girl child. This has not encouraged Oparanozie but left her devasted,” he wrote on Facebook.