Costa Rica 2022: Sebastine Flourishes as Falconets Spank Senegal’s Teranga Lionesses 3-13-1 in Thies

By Harry Awurumibe, Africa’s No.1 Women’s Football Journalist

Nigeria’s Falconets have put one leg in the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Costa Rica 2022 after the team recorded a stunning 3-1 away win over Senegal’s Teranga Lionesses at Stade Lat-Dior in Thies near Dakar in African qualifiers final round first leg encounter on Saturday.

Electrifying winger Flourish Sebastine of Edo Queens singlehandedly ensured that Nigeria recorded a huge victory by scoring a hat-trick in the tie to make the return leg match much easier in Nigeria in a  fortnight as the winner will fly Africa’s flag in Costa Rica in five months’ time.

The nimble-footed forward scored the first of her three goals early in the match as she struck in the 9′ when the Senegalese were yet to settle down for the tough encounter. Perhaps that early goal by Nigeria galvanized the Senegalese as they did not let in any other goal until the end of the first half.

But on resumption, the pep talks of Falconets’ coaches led by experienced gaffer, Christopher Danjuma Musa manifested early as Sabastine who started the party in the first half hit two quick goals in the second half just as Senegal, who reached this stage after penalty shoot-out defeat of Mali in the fourth round, fell apart.

The host tried to mitigate the damagefor the most part of the game instead of looking for goals of their own, although they did not threaten Falconets too much.

However, Togolese referee Vincenta Amedome offered the hosts a consolation goal from the spot in the 89′ after Falconets     captain, Oluwatosin Demehin had tripped a Senegalese forward in the Nigerian box.

The visiting team protected the three goals until the referee’s final  whistle as they look forward to complete the ‘Coup d’ grace’ in the return leg which will take place at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City on Saturday, March 26.