Nigeria’s Super Falcons continued their preparations for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup with a 2-1 win over Haiti in a friendly match at the Emirhan Sports Complex in Antalya, Turkey.
Barcelona Femeni forward Asisat Oshoala, who was making her first appearance for the team since the 2022 Africa Women Cup of Nations in Morocco, thought she had put Nigeria ahead with a simple tap-in in the 22nd minute, but she was adjudged to have been offside by the assistant referee.
Four minutes later, Rasheedat Ajibade, who also plies her trade in Spain with Atletico Madrid, came close to breaking the deadlock but was denied by the woodwork.
However, France-based forward Esther Okoronkwo continued her impressive form for the Falcons, opening the scoring with a brilliantly taken freekick five minutes from halftime.
The strike was her second in as many games after she scored Nigeria’s only goal at the Revelations Cup against Costa Rica earlier this year.
Haiti came close to getting an equaliser ten minutes after the restart, but Stade de Reims defender Tosin Demehin was on hand to deny them with a headed clearance on the goal line.
Following Demehin’s heroics, Oshoala doubled Nigeria’s lead three minutes later with a close-range strike after a goalmouth melee.
The strike was the 28-year-old’s first goal for the Falcons in over two years. After many attempts, Haiti pulled one back in the 75th minute, taking advantage of a defensive mix-up in the Nigerian box.
Despite the late onslaught of the Women’s World Cup debutants, Randy Waldrum’s side held on for a deserved win to make it two consecutive victories.
They will face World Cup co-hosts New Zealand next Tuesday at the Mardan Sports Complex, in Antalya at 2pm WAT.
Watch the Super Falcons play New Zealand in another friendly match on Tuesday on AFROSPORT TV
