At the break, Nigeria led Tunisia 2-0 at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca but had yet to fully convince. The score flattered them; control was patchy. Asisat Oshoala — a goal scorer but still lacking rhythm — stayed in the locker room for the second half. Coach Justin Madugu brought on Esther Okoronkwo, a change that, quietly but decisively, shifted the momentum of the match.
In just 45 minutes, the 27-year-old striker lit up her flank. Powerful, mobile, constantly moving between the lines, she stretched the Tunisian defence, opened spaces, drew fouls, and delivered a perfect assist to Chinwendu Ihezuo for Nigeria’s third goal in the 84th minute. She may not have scored, but she gave the Nigerian attack its bite.
“It doesn’t matter where I start — what matters is the impact I have on the game,” she said in the mixed zone, smiling broadly in a soaked shirt, her eyes still shining with adrenaline.
From her very first touch, Okoronkwo imposed a new tempo. She dropped deep, linked play, and kept things simple. She gave the team breathing space and forced Tunisia to reorganize defensively. In the 73rd minute, she was the architect of another major chance: a driving run down the left, a pinpoint cut-back, and Uchenna Kanu finished without hesitation.
“That’s what I expect from her,” Madugu said at the post-match press conference. “She doesn’t need to score to be important. She reads the game well, anticipates the right movements, and creates opportunities.”
Statistically, her impact was clear. In one half, she touched the ball 24 times, completed 88% of her passes, won three fouls, created two clear chances, and recorded an assist. Her energetic display was in stark contrast to Oshoala’s more static presence, despite the latter’s goal.
“What I like about Esther is her adaptability. She can play as a lone striker, out wide, or in a supporting role. She never complains, she works hard, and when she comes on, she always makes an impact,” said Super Falcons veteran Ngozi Okobi.
Proof of her influence? She walked away with the TotalEnergies Player of the Match trophy — a rare honor for a substitute, and one that was thoroughly deserved. On Sunday evening, there was no debate.
Desire Oparanozie’s view: “She changed the game”
Watching from the stands, former Super Falcons striker Desire Oparanozie didn’t miss a moment of Okoronkwo’s performance — and was full of praise.
“For me, she was the woman of the match. When she came on, we went from a disjointed front three to a real collective. She drops deep, she takes on defenders, she creates space for others. She changed the game — and didn’t even need to score.”
The former Guingamp player, well-versed in the centre-forward role, highlighted one key detail: her movement off the ball.
“Her runs between the lines were damaging. She pulled two defenders with her, which opened space for Ijamilusi and Ihezuo. You might not see it clearly on TV, but on the pitch, it’s obvious.”
With performances like this, Esther Okoronkwo might soon disrupt the pecking order. And if she keeps starting on the bench, it might simply be because no one knows how to come off it better.
Never miss a moment! Get the stories shaping Nigeria, delivered straight to your phone. Follow Peoplesdaily Newspaper on WhatsApp for breaking news, exclusive reports, and the headlines everyone will be talking about, before anyone else.
