Waldrum Praises Echegini for Stellar Display in Nigeria’s Win Over New Zealand

Coach Randy Waldrum has praised Jennifer Echegini after a stellar display in Nigeria’s 3-0 win against New Zealand in an international friendly on Tuesday.

Echegini who was everywhere on the pitch clearing, intercepting, and cutting New Zealand’s line of passes capped her display up with her own goal.

The 22-year-old midfielder scored Nigeria’s second goal in a move described by Waldrum as ‘world class’. The American coach also celebrated the Florida State University midfielder for scoring her first senior national team goal.

“The most exciting thing about that is anytime a player is to play for the country and they get their first goal is the one they always remember and the good thing about that is the buildup to that goal was absolutely brilliant.

“The interplay, the cross, and the finish is world-class. So she will remember that goal for a long time but she’s really come up in the last year since we first brought her to Canada and she just continues to get better and better, I was really happy for her because she finally found the back of the net.”

Echegini who played her first game for Nigeria in a friendly against Canada in 2022 has played seven games scoring one.