Ahead France 2019 World Cup Opener: Nigeria’s foes, Norway sends danger signal

*Spells S/Africa in a 7-2 thriller in friendly                  By Harry Awurumibe                                                                    

With less than five days to Nigeria’s opening match against Norway in Group A in Reims on Saturday, the Scandinavian country has sent jitters down the spines of the 9-times African Champions by hammering FIFA Women’s World Cup debutants-South Africa 7-2 in an international friendly match played yesterday.

South Africa were taught a bitter football lesson by the more illustrious Norway, a country that once lifted the FIFA World Cup in 1995 in Sweden and a strong contender for the trophy in France this summer by falling to the superior fire power of their opponents.

Five first half goals and another two goals in the second stanza by the Norwegians turned the game to a one-sided affair with the South Africans only able to reduce the deficit in the second half to only scratch their opponents on the cheek.

Norway opened the floodgate of goals as early as 7the minute when Vilde Boe Risa riffled home a close range before Lisa-Marie Karlseng Utland scored two goals in the 19^th and 21^st while striker Isabelle Herloven hit hat trick in 22^nd , 43^rd and 53^rd minutes respectively. Forward Emilie Nautnes put the icing on the cake in the 84^th minute.

The South Africans on their own scored through Kholosa Biyana and Amanda Mthandi in the 52^nd and 66^th minutes to show that their technical crew led by Head Coach, Desire Ellis sweated to prepare for the team for the match.

But the result of Norway’s big win against South Africa is of great interest to the Nigerian camp as both countries will knock horns on Saturday, June 8 in Reims in the 8^th FIFA Women’s World Cup match. The outcome of the first match will be of utmost importance to Nigeria and Norway too.

For this reason, the Nigerian camp will have to look for the video of the Norway versus South Africa match to decipher what the South African did not do to prevent the Norwegians from scoring 7 goals against them on the day. This will enable Super Falcons Head Coach, Thomas Dennerby, himself a coach with World Cup experience, a clue to draw up a strategy to out fox Norway on Saturday.