A heroic display from Rivers Angels goalkeeper, Tochukwu Oluehi ensured that the defending champions of the Total Africa Women’s Cup of Nations (AWCON) secured passage into the finals of the 2018 edition of the tournament.
After 120 minutes of football with nothing to separate both sides, it came down to penalties in which Oluehi played a crucial part to take the Super Falcons over the line in a very difficult match against the Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon.
Talking about her penalty save “it feels great,” she said. “It is something I’m perfect at, so I’m very happy for saving a penalty even if I didn’t touch the second one but I dived in the right direction so it’s a thing of joy for me.”
Adding that “we practised it only once but for me it’s a gift. I know how to save penalties when it comes to that.”
Three minutes to the end of extra time you were seen jogging in the box in preparation for penalties “yeah, yeah, yeah,” Oluehi interrupted. “I know if my players can put the ball in the net, everything will be down to me to save the penalties and I did that so I am very happy.”
Speaking on how it feels to be a strong contender for the golden glove having conceded only one goal so far she said: “I feel great but my defenders have been awesome. They’ve been good covering up for me in the sense that that much pressure hasn’t being on my side for me to concede any goal. They’ve been so good in the defence that’s just it.”
Finally ahead of Saturday’s final the Super Falcons keeper said they will be ready for South Africa as they hope to right the wrongs of their group stage campaign.
“This is what we’ve been praying for. We want to show them (South Africa) that beating us in the group stage was just a mistake.”
