Nigeria’s Falconets started their campaign at this year’s FIFA women’s World Cup in Costa Rica with an impressive win over one of the world’s best France. They were down in group Group D with France. The game which was played in the early hours of Friday saw Nigerian Flourish Sabastine get the only goal late in the second half.
Their next game will be on Sunday against South Korea. The Falconets were awarded a free kick close to the edge of the French box but goalkeeper Marie Petiteau came out to save the dangerous swung-in effort. In the 10th minute France had the first attempt on goal but skipper the Falconets goalkeeper Omini Oyono did well to save it.
On 20 minutes the game was suspended by Mexican referee Francia González due to heavy rain. The game resumed and it was France who almost broke the deadlock on 23 minutes from a dangerous corner, with the Falconets’ keeper misjudging the flight of the ball but the defence cleared the danger.
In the 85th minute, the Falconets took the lead through Flourish Sabastine who ran on to a through pass from Idoko before putting the ball beyond the reach of the French goalie. With two minutes left to play, Megane Hoeltzel tried a long-range strike but Oyono held firmly.