A BRACE from Rashidat Ajibade was all the Super Falcons of Nigeria needed to earn a comfortable 2-0 victory over the Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon in a friendly international on Tuesday.
Nigeria took the lead in the 28th minute of play at the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abeokuta, Ogun State, when Ajibade won a penalty and converted the same.
The Super Falcons pressed on, threatening the Cameroonian defence as Ajibade, who recently left Atlético Madrid, pushed for Nigeria’s second.
But the Central African held them out, barely surviving. Two minutes before halftime, it was Nigeria who, expectedly, scored another goal.
This time, Omorinsola Babajide’s sublime pass picked out Ajibade in the Cameroonian box. The forward hit the ball past the goalkeeper to score Nigeria’s second goal of the day.
When the game resumed, the visitors grew into the game and tried to get back into the match.
Deep into added time, they almost got one goal back. But the reigning CAF female goalkeeper of the year showed her capabilities, pulling off a stunning save to stop Cameroon.
Nigeria then held on to see the game off comfortably. The win was the Super Falcons’ 15th victory over their neighbours in 21 games.
Both teams were supposed to play two matches. However, Cameroon’s delayed arrival in Nigeria meant that only one game was played.
The Super Falcons are using the encounter with the Lionesses to prepare for the 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), which is scheduled to begin early next month in Morocco.
