Sports Revelation Online ..breaking authenic sports reports
Harry Awurumibe
Good Job Girls… Super Falcons players celebrating yet another victory
Reigning African Champion, Nigeria this evening defeated Algeria 2-0 in Bilda in the first leg second round match of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games Women’s Football Tournament Africa qualifier match even without the armada of foreign-based players like FC Barcelona femine star, Asisat Oshoala.
The encounter played at the Stade Mustapha Tchaker in Blida outside Algiers, the capital city of Algeria from 7pm Algeria time (same time as in Nigeria) was barely 15 minutes old when a persistent pressure from the Nigerians resulted to an Own Goal (OG) courtesy of Algerian defender, Isma Ouadah who diverted Alice Ogebe cross into the Algerian net.
However, the home team put up a strong resistance and was lucky not to concede more goals until the end of first half.
But on resumption Nigeria continued to press hard for more goals and the second goal came off the boots of the experienced attacking midfielder, Amarachi Okoronkwo whose well struck long range effort in the 54th minute of the game.
Tried as they could to remedy the bad situation, the Algerian girls met a very organized Nigeria’s defence line anchored by Ibom Queens ace defender, Glory Ogbonna and Mariam Ibrahim of Nasarawa Amazons FC of Lafia.
Thomas Dennerby, Head Coach of the Nine-time African Champions, Super Falcons had to field all home-based players following the inability of the overseas-based professional players to make the trip to Algeria because of club duties.
The 18 players he selected for the Battle of Bilda rewarded the Swedish tacticians with a heartwarming 2-0 hammering of the Algerians at their backyard just as Dennerby will now have more of the first team players especially the three players with the Falconets currently campaigning for Gold Medals at the on-going All Africa Games in Rabat, Morocco.
They are first choice goalkeeper, Chiamaka Nnadozie, defender Joy Ndidi Duuru and forward Cynthia Aku who scored a brace in the semi final game against Algeria U-20 team in Rabat on Monday.
Meanwhile, Nigeria Football Federation NFF (NFF) has scheduled the return leg match for Tuesday, September 3 at Agege stadium, Lagos.
Elsewhere, Malawi beat Kenya 3-2 at home ; Zambia was ruthless as the Zambians walloped Zimbabwe 5-0 even as Ghana thrashed Gabon 3-0 away. Equatorial Guinea could not travel to Congo DR so they were walked over as Ethiopia and a Cameroon had earlier played a 1-1 draw.