Nigeria(W) 2-1 Haiti(W): Okoronkwo and Oshoala help Falcons silence Grenadieres

By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde

Nigeria senior women’s national team continued its preparation for this year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup with a 2-1 win over another World Cup-bound side, Haiti at Emir Sports Complex, Antalya, Turkey.

Coach Randy Waldrum made four changes to the team that ended Nigeria’s seven-match winless run with a 1-0 win against Costa Rica at the maiden Revelation Cup in Mexico as Chiamaka Nnadozie, Halimat Ayinde, Onome Ebi, and Asisat Oshoala replaced Yetunde Balogun, Osinachi Ohale, Christy Ucheibe, and Ifeoma Onumonu.

Haitian coach, Nicolas Delepine ahead of the game received a blow as centre defender, Tabita Dougenie Joseph was ruled out of the encounter.

The Nigerians made a promising start when returnee Oshoala thought she had given the nine-time African Champions the lead but her tap-in was ruled out for offside in the 22nd minute.

Four minutes later, Rasheedat Ajibade’s brilliant effort at goal but the woodwork.

The nine-time African champions finally found the breakthrough in the 40th minute when Saint Etienne forward, Esther Okoronkwo superbly taken a left-footed free kick to find the back of the net.

After the restart, the Super Falcons doubled its lead in the 58th minute when Oshoala finally find the back of the net from a goal-mouth scramble off a resulting corner kick.

The Haitians were not deterred by going two goals down and surged forward in search of a goal but Nnadozie denied the Haitian in the 67th minute.

The Paris FC goalkeeper, however could not deny the Caribbean in the 75th minute as the World Cup debutant pulled a goal back.

Haiti continued to search for the equaliser but Nigeria hold on for another win ahead of Tuesday’s clash with World Cup co-host, New Zealand.

The encounter marked the return of Desire Oparanozie to the fold as she replaced Esther Okoronkwo in the 65th minute, while Christy Ucheibe also replaced Ebi in the 73rd minute before Haiti’s equaliser.

Waldrum’s side will take the win into next Tuesday’s encounter hoping to extend its unbeaten run to three games against World Cup co-host.