By Daily Sports Nigeria on August 12, 2022
Nigeria’s under-20 National Women’s Football Team (Falconets) defeated France 1- 0 in their opening game of the ongoing FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Costa Rica on Friday at Estadio Nacional de Costa Rica, San Jose.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Nigeria’s women, playing in group C, began their opening match with their French counterparts but after barely 32 minutes after the first half, the match was suspended due to heavy rainfall.
Centre Referee halted the match to save both teams from the bad weather.
On resumption, both teams continued from where they stopped with the Falconets showing supremacy in the game.
They dictated the pace of the match from the start and had the majority of ball possession with 52 per cent as against France with 48 per cent.
While both teams’ shots on goal against each other were tied, they also had one yellow card each.
On resumption in the second half, both teams struggled for the ball with Mercy Idoko trying to score for the team
Nigeria but the French goalkeeper frustrated her efforts in the 56th minute.
France fought well a few minutes later and netted the ball but was overruled by the referee.
In the 85th minute, Flourish Sabastine broke the deadlock with a Mercy Idoko’s pass which fetched them the late winning goal.
The French girls continued to fight back but were unable to get any goal until the game closed in favour of Nigeria.
Nigeria will face South Korea on Sunday in their next match.
NAN reported that Falconets were paired in Group C along France, South Korea and Canada.
Meanwhile, in another match played earlier, the U.S. Under-20 team opened its run with an emphatic 3-0 victory against Ghana.
Falconets beat Senegal 4-1 in Benin on Mar. 26 to qualify for the World Cup held from Aug. 10 to 28 in Costa Rica.
Source The Guardian Nigeria
Posted August 12, 2022
You may also like...
Lagos agog as Onazi gets married
Chelsea Ponder Shock Move For Arsenal Captain Aubameyang...
Aluko turns match hero for Fulham
AFN: Udo-Obong declares ambition to lead association
Zidane denies rift with Ronaldo
NANPF Gets CAC Certificate For Players’ Welfare

World Cup: Argentina face FIFA sanction over Falklands banner display
World Cup English FA backs Tuchel despite semi-final loss
Messi, Argentina finds Pickford’s penalty cheat sheet – Report
Argentina punished England after sensing weakness, doubts, says Scaloni W’Cup semi-final win
Commonwealth Games: Igali praises welfare, backs Team Nigeria for success
Important Lessons From 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP FINALS: Dear Ibrahim Gusau, It's Time To Resign Honorably
Nnadozie tops WSL keepers’ chart
FULL LIST: Unai Simón joins World Cup clean-sheet greats as Barthez, Shilton remain joint leaders
Ashe declares readiness for Commonwealth Games
Amusan secures 2026 Diamond League final spot
Nigerians demand NFF overhaul after Eagles’ W’Cup absence
France, Spain battle for place in World Cup final
Rangers International going, going . . . (63,955 views)
Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (55,295 views)
Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (53,206 views)
Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (52,813 views)
Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (52,696 views)
Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (52,565 views)
Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (52,453 views)
NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (51,970 views)
Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (51,189 views)
Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (49,655 views)
Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (48,136 views)
John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (47,521 views)