The Super Falcons of Nigeria defeated the 2023 FIFA women’s World Cup debutant Haiti 2-1 in an international friendly game played inside the Emir Sports stadium complex in Antalya, Turkey, on Friday.
It is now back-to-back victories for the Falcons who ended their seven-game losing streak, with a 1-0 win against Costa Rica at the 2023 Revelation Cup four-nation invitational tournament in Mexico in February.
The friendly game which was played inside the Emir Sports Stadium complex in Antalya, Turkey, saw Asisat Oshoala mark her return to the team with a goal.
The last time Oshoala featured for the Falcons was in July, in their opening game at the 2022 Women’s Cup of Nations against South Africa.
Also, Desire Oparanozie, who has been out of the team for a long time, made a return after coming on in the second half.
Oshoala thought she had opened the scoring in the 22nd minute after the Haitian keeper dropped a shot but the goal was disallowed for offside.
In the 26th minute, the Falcons launched a counter but Rasheedat Ajibade’s attempt clipped the cross bar and went out for a goal kick.
Haiti had a chance of their own and almost took the lead in the 33rd minute after the Falcons failed to properly clear a set piece but the effort went just over the bar.
On 38 minutes Oshoala connected with Mitchel Alozie’s cross from the right but the effort went inches wide from the target.
But the Falcons eventually broke the deadlock in the 40th minute through Esther Okoronkwo from a direct free-kick close to the edge of Haiti’s box.
Haiti came out purposeful in the second half and almost equalised in the 56th minute from a free-kick but Chiamaka Nnadozie made a good save.
In the 58th minute, Oshoala made it 2-0 from a goalmouth scramble.
Nnadozie was called to action in the 67th minute making a superb save from close range to deny Haiti.
With 15 minutes left to play Haiti pulled a goal back following a defensive mixup from the Falcons.
The Falcons almost restored their two-goal advantage in the 88th minute but the Haiti keeper made a brilliant save.
Up next for the Falcons is another international friendly this time against co-host of this year’s women’s World Cup New Zealand.
The game will take place on Tuesday, 11 April at the Mardan Stadyumu in Antalya, Turkey.
This year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup will be co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand and it will run from 20 July to 20 August
