Super Falcons goalkeeper, Chiamaka Nnadozie has revealed the secret behind her penalty save which earned Nigeria a point from their opening group game against Canada last Friday, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
The Paris FC keeper saved Christine Sinclair penalty in the 50th of their goalless draw with the reigning Olympic queens at the Melbourne Rectangular Stadium.
Nnadozie has always been good at saving penalties, even before World Cup.
The 22-year-old’s penatly heroics played a key role in helping Falcons qualify for the last edition of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco at the expense of Ivory Coast.
The Falcons defeated the Ivoirians 2-0 in Abuja in the first leg but in the 34th minute of the reverse fixture at the Stade Robert Champroux, Nnadozie saved the penalty after defender Ashleigh Plumptre was adjudged to have tripped an Ivoirian striker in the Nigerian area.
“Yes during the AFCON qualifiers last year against Ivory Coast, I stopped a penalty to keep the team’s AFCON hopes alive,”Nnadozie responded if it was the first time she saved a spot kick.
“There’s no extra time dedicated to learning how to save penalties. I think it is down to your feelings and your mindset. it was not easy but then I was happy I was happy to save the penalty.
“It wasn’t an easy one.”
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