Nigeria & the U.S. lock horns in women’s friendly soccer game
In an international friendly on Saturday, September 3, Nigeria lost 4-0 to the U.S., in the first of two games, at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas, United States.
On Tuesday, September 6, the United States Women’s National Team and the Nigerian Super Falcons will once more cross paths at Audi Field Stadium in Washington, D.C., United States.
The USWNT defeated the Super Falcons on Saturday owing to goals from Lindsey Horan, Alex Morgan, and Sophia Smith, who scored twice in the first half.
Chiamaka Nnadozie, the Nigerian goalie was in a great position to stop Smith from giving the Americans the lead in the fourth minute, but conceded from her in the 14th minute. After seven minutes, Nigeria nearly equalised, but goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher stopped Monday Gift’s long-range attempt.
Horan increased the lead with a second goal in the 25th minute, while Smith scored her second goal in the last seconds of the first half in the 45+1st minute, to place a 3rd goal for the U.S. team.
Despite their disadvantage, the Super Falcons played better and appeared more controlling in the second half, but they lacked precision in front of goal.
In the 54th minute, they conceded their fourth goal when Morgan scored from the penalty spot after the Falcons fouled in the goal area. The remainder of the game ended without a goal.
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The USA, which has participated in every tournament since the competition’s establishment in 1991 and won a record four championships, has qualified for the FIFA Women’s World Cup for a ninth straight time.
By winning the game, the U.S. team went on a perfect streak against their African oppositions, beating South Africa twice in two games and the Super Falcons six times. They have won all six of the games they played against their African rivals.
The Super Falcons team recently competed in the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, where they placed fourth. They continue to get ready for their ninth qualifications of the Women’s World Cup, which will be co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand in 2023.
The teams’ clash on September 6 will be their second in four days and the third between the United States and Nigeria in the previous two years. The nations have faced off eight times overall, but this is only the third time in a friendly match.
The first five matches between the USA and Nigeria all took place at international competitions, with four games (in 1999, 2003, 2007, and 2015) taking place at the Women’s World Cup and one at the Olympics (2000).
The majority of the matches between these two nations have been closely contested, with the exception of the Americans’ 5-0 triumph in the 2003 World Cup group stage and the teams’ 7-1 victory in their first-ever meeting, which occurred in group play at the 1999 Women’s World Cup.
At the 2000 Summer Olympics, the USA defeated Nigeria 3-1. At the 2007 and 2015 World Cups, the USA defeated the Super Falcons twice in the group stages, both times by a score of 1-0.
Source: News Agencies
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Oral Ofori is Founder and Publisher at www.TheAfricanDream.net, a digital storyteller and producer, and also an information and research consultant.
