WOMEN'S FOOTBALL
Ajibade’s double earns Falcons victory over Algeria’s Green Ladies
Two exquisite first-half strikes by Captain Rasheedat Ajibade in Ikenne-Remo on Saturday earned nine-time African champions Nigeria victory over visiting Algeria in the first of two international friendly matches between both countries.
First, Ajibade galloped past an unsuspecting rearguard of the Green Ladies and heaved the ball over and above the advancing goalkeeper Amel Salah for Nigeria’s first goal in the 24th minute, following a good pass by defender Oluwatosin Demehin.
Then, just before the half-time whistle of referee Christelle Ligan, the Spain-based attacking midfielder collected the ball from Folashade Ijamilusi as Nigeria broke forward, and unleashed a rocket from 22 yards that flew straight into the top corner, ignoring goalkeeper Salah’s tame attempt at stopping it.
An entertaining game at the best privately-owned sport infrastructure in the country – Remo Stars Sports Complex – also saw Esther Onyenezide miss from close range in the 44th minute, and Ijamilusi was thwarted by Salah in the 66th and 90th minute.
Defender Blessing Ilivieda contends for the ball with Algeria’s Ines Boutaleb.
Algeria’s best chance came in the 75th minute, but forward Gladys Ikene saw her chip glide past the goal after escaping the attention of goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie.
“We have a young team and the players are trying to understand each other better with each passing game. We love this type of matches that help our telepathy and cohesion.
“Nigeria is a strong team globally and we are not ashamed to lose to them. However, I believe we will have a better game on Tuesday because we have learnt some things here today,” Coach Farid Benstiti said after the final whistle.
Super Falcons’ Coach, Justine Madugu, said: “We are on a rebuilding process and I must say that a good number of the home-based professionals impressed me. Ajibade, as always, led from the front and gave us great balance going forward.
“Now, we are looking forward to the encounter on Tuesday to build on what we have been able to do here.”
WOMEN'S FOOTBALL
Algeria’s ‘Green Ladies’ storm Nigeria as Ikenne braces up for hosting its fifth international match in two years
A 35-woman delegation of the Algeria senior women national football team has arrived in Lagos, ahead of the international friendly matches with nine-time African champions Nigeria on Saturday and Tuesday.
The team will first face the Super Falcons of Nigeria at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne on Saturday before a rematch in Lagos on Tuesday.
The Saturday match at Ikenne, the emerging national theatre of football in Nigeria will be the fifth international match that the town will be hosting in a space of two years.
The town had played hosts to AS FAR of Morocco twice in 2022 and 2024, Medeama of Ghana in 2023 and also the CAF Confederation Cup contest of El Kanemi and Benin Republic’s Dadjè FC d’Aplahoué.
The Algerian team will clash with the Super Falcons at the Remo Stars’ Sports Complex, Ikenne from 3pm on Saturday
The second match is scheduled for the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Lagos on Tuesday, 29th October from 4pm.
The delegation members of Algeria are staying at the Eko Hotel & Towers, Victoria Island.
The ‘Green Ladies’, who have made five appearances at the Women Africa Cup of Nations, with their debut in 2004, were scheduled to train at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena at 5pm on Thursday.
However, both the ‘Green Ladies’ and the Super Falcons will move to the Legacy Pitch inside the National Stadium, Surulere for their official training sessions, with the Algerians to take the pitch at 4pm.
Head Coach Justine Madugu said on Thursday that he is expecting a masterclass performance from the Super Falcons, who impressed at last year’s FIFA World Cup finals in Down Under and made a return to the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament this summer after a 16-year absence.
“We have been having useful sessions since we resumed on Monday. I am impressed with the discipline and sense of dedication of the players, and I am looking forward to a masterclass performance by the Super Falcons in both games.
“We respect the Algerians just as we respect every team we play, but the truth is that we need to bounce back strongly from the below-par outing at the Olympics and restore our team’s confidence and positive spirit.”
These two matches stir memories of the Aisha Buhari Women’s Tournament held in Lagos in September 2021, which is also the last time the Super Falcons played Grade A friendly matches on home soil.
Madugu’s squad has a large contingent of home-based professionals, with only six overseas-based players invited.
Shakirat Moshood’s 89th minute strike from 24 yards earned Nigeria all three points against a heroic Dominican Republic side in the two team’s final match of Group A at the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup on Wednesday morning. The win ensured that Nigeria will battle USA in the quarter-finals on Saturday.
Playing for the first time in Santo Domingo, the barnstorming Nigerians found the going tough under driving rain against a determined host nation, and could not make an overwhelming ball possession count until Moshood, now with four goals, unleashed a rocket from outside the box.
Captain Renata Mercedes and goalkeeper Rondon led a famous resistance against one of the elites of the competition, and the hosts deserved praise for their pushback that ensured the Flamingos made nothing out of 16 corner kicks.
Coach Bankole Olowookere made three changes to the starting line-up, bringing in Rokibat Azeez, Blessing Ifitezue and Ramotalahi Kareem in place of Onyedikachi Ekezie, Peace Effiong and Harmony Chidi.
He restored Effiong and Chidi after the hour, but it took a special effort from Moshood, scorer of the tournament’s fastest goal, to break the hearts of the hosts.
Victory means the Flamingos top their group, three points better than second-placed Ecuador, who walloped New Zealand 4-0 to finish with six points and set up a clash with Spain on Sunday. Caprice Chiuchiolo netted a brace.
WOMEN'S FOOTBALL
International Friendlies: Madugu excited as all invited Super Falcons show up for first training
Head Coach Justine Madugu on Tuesday expressed his delight that all 25 invited players are already in camp as the team prepared for its first training session at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, ahead of the two international friendly matches against the senior women national team of Algeria.
“I am very happy that all the invited players are here. We will be able to have four days of full training sessions and be in great shape for the first game. We thank the Nigeria Football Federation for arranging these two games for the Super Falcons.”
However, the heavy downpour in Lagos on Tuesday made the training session impossible, with the team having to return to Eko Hotel & Towers for gym sessions.
The nine-time African champions will take on the Algerian girls at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena on Saturday, 26th October, and again at the same venue on Tuesday, 29th October. Both matches will kick off at 4pm.
A 35-woman Algerian delegation is scheduled to arrive in Nigeria on Thursday morning, aboarda Qatar Airways flight, with the match officials from Benin Republic also scheduled to arrive in Lagos same day.
The Beninoise quartet of Aurore Christine Ligan, Nafissatou Yekini Shitou, Sonia Emilie Louis and Laurande Offin will take charge of the two matches, with Ligan serving as referee for the first match with Offin as fourth official, while Offin will be at the centre for the second match with Ligan in the role of fourth official.
The Nigeria Football Federation will appoint a match commissioner for each of the games.
SUPER FALCONS TO PLAY ALGERIA
Goalkeepers: Chiamaka Nnadozie (Paris FC, France); Monle Oyono (Edo Queens); Rachael Unachukwu (Nasarawa Amazons)
Defenders: Chidinma Okeke (Club America, Mexico); Oluwatosin Demehin (Galatasaray Sportive FC, Turkey); Miracle Usani (Edo Queens); Florence Alexander (Bayelsa Queens); Blessing Ilivieda (Edo Queens); Sikiratu Isa (Nasarawa Amazons); Comfort Folorunsho (Edo Queens); Tessy Ojiyovwi (Nasarawa Amazons); Chidinma Ogbuchi (FC Robo Queens)
Midfielders: Rasheedat Ajibade (Atletico Madrid, Spain); Esther Onyenezide (Hapoel Katamon, Israel); Shukurat Oladipo (FC Robo Queens); Chioma Olise (Edo Queens); Josephine Matthias (Nasarawa Amazons); Amarachi Odoma (Edo Queens)
Forwards: Gift Monday (UDG Tenerife, Spain); Goodness Osigwe (Edo Queens); Janet Akekoromowei (Nasarawa Amazons); Delight Nwosu (Bayelsa Queens); Folashade Ijamilusi (Edo Queens); Mercy Omokwo (Bayelsa Queens); Olamide Bolaji (Remo Stars Ladies)
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