The Falconets got their 2022 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup campaign off to a winning start in the early hours of today with a 1-0 victory over France in San Jose, Costa Rica.
The Nigerian girls secured the win through a late Flourish Sebastine goal, few minutes after they had been fortunate to see a goal by France disallowed.
The match kicked off at exactly 12 midnight Nigerian time but did not end until few minutes to 3am due to a long delay caused by the weather.
The referee had to suspend proceedings 20 minutes into the match as heavy rain continued to lash down, making playing almost impossible.
The downpour persisted for about one hour before it subsided enough for the action to resume.
It was 0-0 at the time the game was suspended and there was still no goal at half-time as both sides struggled to create openings.
The first big chance of the game fell to the Falconets in the 58th minute when Sebastine set up Mercy Idoko, who did well to get a shot away and on target despite the close attentions of a French defender.
The shot was saved and France survived before they had a chance of their own four minutes later.
France then had the ball in the Nigerian net in the 80th minute as goalkeeper Monle Oyono failed to hold on to a high ball from a corner kick and the French pounced after she dropped the ball.
The goal was however chalked off after a lengthy Video Assistant Referee review, with the referee ruling that Oyono was fouled before the goal was scored.
The Falconets then scored at the other end five minutes later, with Sebastine, top scorer in the African qualifiers, confidently stroking the ball past the French goalkeeper after being put clean through by Idoko.
The Falconets next face Korea on Sunday before completing their group matches against Canada on Thursday next week.
Africa’s other representatives in the competition, Ghana, were beaten 3-0 by the United States of America in their own opening match yesterday.
Michelle Cooper, Alyssa Thompson and Ally Sentnor scored for the Americans against the Black Princesses, who had Jacqueline Owusu sent off in the first half after a VAR review.
