International Friendly: Super Falcons, team officials, jet into France for big game

Posted : 27 November 2024

Players and officials of nine-time African champions, Nigeria, began arriving in the city of Angers, France, on Wednesday morning ahead of Saturday’s much-anticipated international friendly game between the Super Falcons and Les Bleues.

This will be the second time both teams face off in a friendly match. The first encounter was a disappointing experience for the Falcons, who suffered an 8-0 defeat in freezing weather at Le Mans’ Stade Marie-Marvingt on April 6, 2018.

Watch NPFL Matches LIVE: https://www.africasport.net/livetv/nigeria

Only goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, who plays her club football in France, and Mexico-based defender Osinachi Ohale remain from that squad. The defeat, which included a hat-trick from Valérie Gauvin and an own goal by defender Faith Ikidi-Michael, matched the Falcons’ heaviest losses—against Norway at the 1995 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Sweden and Germany in a friendly at Leverkusen’s BayArena on November 25, 2010.

However, matches at the FIFA Women’s World Cup finals between the two teams have been more competitive. The Falcons lost narrowly to Les Bleues by a single goal in Germany in 2011 and again by the same margin at Roazhon Park during the 2019 World Cup hosted by France.

The scheduling of Saturday’s encounter reflects the Ibrahim Musa Gusau-led administration’s commitment to building a new Super Falcons squad through exposure and experience, following their underwhelming performance at the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament in France this summer.

This high-profile game against Les Bleues comes only five weeks after the Falcons won two friendly matches against Algeria’s Green Ladies (2-0 and 4-1) in Nigeria, and eight days after learning they would face Tunisia, Algeria, and Botswana in the group stage of the 13th Women’s AFCON in Morocco next summer.

Saturday’s match will kick off at 9:30 p.m. French time, the same time as in Nigeria.

Super Falcons Squad
Goalkeepers:
Chiamaka Nnadozie (Paris FC, France); Anderline Mgbechi (Rivers Angels); Rachael Unachukwu (Nasarawa Amazons)

Defenders:
Osinachi Ohale (Pachuca Club de Fútbol, Mexico); Michelle Alozie (Houston Dash, USA); Ashleigh Plumptre (Ittihad Ladies, Saudi Arabia); Rofiat Imuran (London City Lionesses, England); Sikiratu Isah (Nasarawa Amazons); Oluwatosin Demehin (Galatasaray, Turkey)

Midfielders:
Jennifer Echegini (Paris Saint-Germain, France); Toni Payne (Everton Ladies, England); Josephine Mathias (Nasarawa Amazons); Christy Ucheibe (SL Benfica, Portugal); Shukurat Oladipo (FC Robo Queens); Adoo Yina (Nasarawa Amazons)

Forwards:
Blessing Nkor (Pyramids FC, Egypt); Gift Monday (Costa Adeje Tenerife Egatesa, Spain); Ifeoma Onumonu (Montpellier FC, France); Omorinsola Babajide (Costa Adeje Tenerife Egatesa, Spain); Mercy Omokwo (Bayelsa Queens)

International Friendly: Super Falcons, team officials, jet into France for big game

ADD A COMMENT :

Hot Topics