Sport
Super Falcons Lose 2-1 to France in a Tough Friendly Match in Angers
The Super Falcons of Nigeria fell to a 2-1 defeat against Les Bleues of France in an intense friendly match held at Stade Raymond Kopa in Angers.
France initially appeared to take the lead early on when Marie-Antoinette Katoto found the net in the seventh minute, but her goal was disallowed due to an offside call.
The breakthrough eventually came just before the 30th minute when Eugenie Le Sommer, one of France’s most decorated players and all-time leading scorer, capitalized on a chance to put her team ahead.
Eight minutes later, France doubled their advantage as Amel Majri, the Tunisia-born midfielder known for her versatility, slotted the ball past Nigeria’s goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie.
Majri’s clinical finish showcased her attacking prowess and left Nigeria trailing by two goals.
However, the Super Falcons responded with resilience. In the final moments of the first half, Ifeoma Onumonu pulled one back for Nigeria with a brilliant chip over the French goalkeeper.
The goal, created from a swift counterattack, marked Nigeria’s first-ever strike against the French team, a historic moment despite the eventual loss.
The second half saw both teams creating chances but failing to convert them into goals.
Nigeria’s defense, led by Nnadozie, managed to hold off further attacks from the French side, while their forwards sought an equalizer that never came.
For the Super Falcons, this match served as an opportunity to test their strength against one of Europe’s top teams.
Despite the loss, their performance, particularly Onumonu’s goal, highlighted their potential to compete on the global stage.
France, coached by Laurent Bonadie, extended their dominance over Nigeria, reflecting the depth of talent in their squad.
Players like Le Sommer and Majri continue to be pivotal figures, showcasing why France remains a powerhouse in women’s football.
Super Eagles defender Calvin Bassey has opened up about a difficult period in his career, revealing that he almost stepped away from football.
Speaking during a recent interview, Bassey shared that he once made a personal promise to himself to quit pursuing football professionally if he failed to secure a spot at a professional club.
“I remember being 15 and going into my final year, and I told myself that if I didn’t get into a professional club, I would quit football. It was that simple,” he said.
“I would just stop pursuing it seriously and only play for fun. Thank God I eventually got a club, because I honestly don’t know where I would be otherwise.”
It has been reported that the Confederation of African Football (CAF) fined Egypt $5,000 following their clash with Zimbabwe for failing to manage post-match media obligations.
It was noted that after the match, the Egyptian players ignored the media. This action was said to be a violation of CAF’s media regulations, which led to the fine being imposed.
Head of the Super Eagles, Eric Chelle, shared that the big-name players on the team are not happy about being benched.
He recalled when he took out Samuel Chukwueze during the match against Tanzania.
“Yes, of course, we’ve in this team a lot of big names. They are competitors; they aren’t happy when they go to the bench,” Chelle said at his post-match interview.”
“My job is to make choices, and we’re playing a 4-4-2 diamond, and at this moment I feel we have to protect the wing.”
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