France W 2-1 Nigeria W: Ifeoma Onumonu enters history books as Le Bleues pip Super Falcons

By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde

For the first since 2011 when Nigeria’s senior women’s national team first met their counterparts from France, the team scored a goal during a 2-1 loss in an intentional friendly match in Angers on Saturday.

Two goals in the first half from Eugenie Le Sommer and Amel Majri ensured that France made it four consecutive victories over Nigeria.

Marie-Antoinette Katoto thought she had opened scoring for Le Bleues in the eighth minute but the goal was ruled out for an offside.

A minute before the half hour mark, a good team play led to the opener as Katoto set up Le Sommer for the first goal of the encounter inside the box.

Eight minute later, it was the turn of Le Sommer to set up Majri for the second goal.

Ifeoma Onumonu who has been in superb form for French side, Montpellier with goals in four consecutive games translated her club form to the national team as she reduced the deficit for the nine time African champions from a counter attack after being set up by Gift Monday in the additional minutes of the the first half.

The goal was the first scored by the Super Falcons against Le Bleues since their first meeting at the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

The French had won their previous three meetings with the Super Falcons without conceding in 2011 (1-0), 2018 (8-0), and 2019 (1-0).

The goal gave Justine Madugu’s side more purpose with attack intense to get the leveller in the second half.

Isah Sikiratu forced the French goalkeeper into an acrobatic save while Christy Ucheibe’s attempt inside the box went over the bar.

Pachuca defender, Osinachi Ohale was sent off for her second bookable offence in the additional minutes of the second half as France held on to another slim win.