By Harry Awurumibe, Editor, Abuja Bureau
Montpellier women’s football club’s Ifeoma Onumonu’s 45+3 minute goal was not enough to stop Nigeria from losing 2-1 to France in the international friendly match played on Saturday night at Stade Raymond Kopa in Angers in the western France.
Les Bleues have raced to what looked like an early lead in the 7th minute of the highly entertaining game when striker Marie-Antoniette Katoto beat Chiamaka Nnadozie in goal for Nigeria at close range but Video Assistant Referee (VAR) ruled the goal offside.
But France was not to be denied again when veteran goalscorer Eugenie Le Sommer scored in the 28th minute while another France’s senior player Amel Majri scored in the 37th minute to make it two goals to nil against Nigeria.
Prompt News reports that Nigerian forward Onumonu who plays her club football in France, however, scored a brilliant goal at the dot of the three added minutes of the first half to bring the scoreline to 2-1 at the interval.
On resumption, France pressed hard to score more goals but a resilient Nigerian team which its game plan was not lose scandalously again to France following three earlier defeats with one of them ending in 8-0 bashing of Nigeria in 2018 friendly match in La Mans, France.
The other two occasions are the lone goal victory over the Super Falcons by Les Bleues on June 26, 2011 courtesy of Arne Delie’s 56′ strike at Rhein-Neckar-Arena, Sinsheim, Germany and by the same margin at the Roazhon Park, Rennes when both sides clashed in June 17, 2019 at the World Cup finals hosted by France.
Although France maintained her superiority over Nigeria in four matches with four victories, Onumonu’s consolations goal was also the first goal Nigeria will score against France senior women’s team.
Nigeria Startlist vs France:
Goalkeepers: Chiamaka Nnadozie (Paris FC, France)
Defenders: Osinachi Ohale (Pachucha Club de Futbol, Mexico); Michelle Alozie (Houston Dash, USA); Ashleigh Plumptre (Ittihad Ladies, Saudi Arabia); Rofiat Imuran (London City Lioness, England)
Midfielders: Jennifer Echegini (Paris Saint Germain, France); Toni Payne (Everton Ladies, England); Christy Ucheibe (SL Benfica, Portugal)
Forwards: Blessing Nkor (Pyramids FC, Egypt); Gift Monday (Coasta Adeje Tenerife Egatesa (Spain); Ifeoma Onumonu (Montpellier FC, France).
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