September 16, (THEWILL) – The Super Falcons of Nigeria opened their participation at the maiden edition of the FIFA-recognised Aisha Buhari Invitational Women’s Tournament with a 2-0 defeat of Les Aiglonnes of Mali at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan, Lagos.
Falcons’ manager Randy Waldrum introduced Gift Monday into the match to add bite to their attack and the substitute found the back of the net twice.
The showpiece drew eminent football officials to the Lagos state, including the FIFA president, Gianni Infantino, the CAF president, Patrice Motsepe, and the NFF president, Amaju Pinnick.
The match was a decidedly one-sided affair that should have been well over if not for the Falcons’ profligacy in front of goal. Instead, things remained the same until the introduction of Gift Monday in the 77th minute.
Before the goal, the Falcons faced a determined Malian team bent on getting a positive result out of their encounter with the best female football team on the continent. Ordega, whom Monday replaced in the 77th minute, had one of Nigeria’s earliest attempts a quarter of an hour into the game. But her haste to find the net ended with the ball going wide.
Les Aiglonnes began the second half with the same determined resolve whilst defending stoutly to fend off the marauding attacks on their goal area.
But, Nigeria’s ladies continued to create goal-scoring chances, with the best chance falling to Oshoala. However, in a one-on-one against Mali’s goalkeeper Karenta, the UEFA Champions League winner fluffed her attempts to get the ball past the keeper to give her team the lead. Karenta stood against Kanu again in the 74th minute to keep the match goalless.
For all Karenta’s hard work, her defenders let her down on the 83rd minute, when they could not mark out Monday as she leapt to direct Oshoala’s cross into the Malian net and send the crowds in the stands wild with celebration.
Again, there was not much a stranded Karenta could do about the second Monday goal in injury time. The two Falcons’ players, who had combined successfully the first time, were at it again as Oshoala’s throughball sent Monday off to a one-on-one with Karenta and unlike Oshoala, Monday composed herself to finish the move with a controlled loop over the advancing keeper.
Nigeria will next take on the Atlas Lionesses of Morocco, who are drawn with them in Group A of the Aisha Buhari Invitational Women’s Tournament.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
