Pre-WAFCON Friendlies: Fabulous Falcons flog Lionesses 3-1 in Yaounde
Perennial African champions Nigeria underscored the truism that class is permanent when they trounced the Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon 3-1 in the second of a two-match tour in Yaounde on Tuesday.
Three days after they were pipped by the odd goal in the first meeting, the Super Falcons returned to the Military Stadium in northern Yaoundé and flipped the script emphatically, beating the Lionesses 3-1.
Head Coach Justin Madugu made seven changes to the side that lost on Saturday. Cameroon struck first again, a seventh-minute goal that briefly stirred memories of the weekend defeat.
However, forward Chinwendu Ihezuo drew Nigeria level in the 32nd minute, rising above her marker to power home a header from Rinsola Babajide’s cross. Then, just before half time, the comeback was complete. After a scramble inside the box, Babajide who had assisted the leveller showed sharp instincts to fire Nigeria in front in the 43rd minute.
Madugu’s reshaped midfield pressed higher, closed central lanes quicker, and forced Cameroon into hopeful deliveries.
In the second half, Captain Rasheedat Ajibade, tireless down the right, delivered a teasing cross into the heart of the box. Michelle Alozie attacked it with conviction, launching herself into a flying header that made it 3-1 in the 64th minute.
Both teams used the games as part of their preparations for the 14th edition of the Women Africa Cup of Nations, scheduled for Morocco, 17th March – 3rd April.
