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Regina Otu, Yewande Balogun and Esther Okoronkwo win French title with Saint Etienne
By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde
Nigeria trio of Regina Otu, Yewande Balogun, and Esther Okoronkwo has won the French women’s second division title for 2023 season after gaining promotion to topflight D1 Arkema.
Les Vertes last weekend defeated Albi 6-1 at home to be confirmed and crowned league Champions.
The last game of the season didn’t start in the best way for the Vertes. Despite the first opportunity from the duo of Phoenetia Brown and Peyton DePriest, the start of the match was calm and Albi even found a way to open the scoring.
Kimberley Cazeau took advantage of a space left by the Saint-Etienne defense to locate Maryne Gignoux who scored the first goal for the visitors in the 21st minute.
On Saint-Etienne’s side, there are no other possibilities than victory in this meeting to secure the title ahead of Lille from the other group.
The Greens react quickly. With a header, Cindy Caputo equalized on a cross from Peyton DePriest for the equalizer at the half-hour mark.
Before the break, Faustine Bataillard picked up an abandoned ball in the area to give the advantage to the host in the 40th minute.
In the process, Ninon Blanchard increased the lead to three before the halftime break.
The last 45 minutes was one-sided as they was finally the captain, Élise Legrout, who made it 4-1 in the 57th minute.
The shower of goals continue to rain at the Etivallière Park as Cindy Caputo also got on the goal scorers sheet with her second goal of the game.
The striker converted her side’s fifth goal in the 78th minute then a hat-trick to complete the game in the 90th minute.
Yewande and Regina will enjoy the league title together while Esther has sealed a move to Spanish Liga F side, UDG Tenerife where she joined compatriot, Monday Gift.
