THE Super Falcons of Nigeria put up a brave fight but lost 2-1 to France in a friendly match played in wintry weather in Angers last night.
Eugenie Claudine Le Sommer and Amel Majri netted for Les Bleues before Ifeoma Onumonu reduced the deficit for the Super Falcons, with all the goals coming in the first half.
The nine-time African champions started brightly at the Stade Raymond Kopa, but it was the hosts, through Marie-Antoinette Katoto, who had the ball in the net in the seventh minute, only to be correctly ruled offside.
Le Sommer, playing her 197th match for Les Bleues, scored her 94th international goal in the 29th minute to put the hosts ahead.
Eight minutes later, it was 2-0 after Tunisia-born Majri beat Nigeria goalkeeper and stand-in captain Chiamaka Nnadozie.
The highlight of the game, however, was the Super Falcons scoring their first-ever goal against Les Bleues.
From a corner kick to the hosts in first half added time, a long clearance from the back found Spain-based Gift Monday, who set up Montpellier of France forward Ifeoma Onumonu for the historic goal.
Both teams had chances after the break, with Nnadozie saving from Dephine Cascarino just after the restart, and as the game wore on, Majri saw her 20-yard free-kick go high and wide.
With 10 minutes left on the clock, Nigeria broke forward, and from a corner kick, defender Sikiratu Isah came close with a volley that had goalkeeper Pauline Peyraud-Magnin stretching full strength to tip the ball behind the goalpost.
Five minutes later, Christy Ucheibe lost her bearing when sweeping the ball from a cross from the right, and watched as it floated over the bar.
In the 86th minute, Nnadozie saved another point-blank effort, and the rebound was scrambled back to the goalkeeper by Sikiratu Isah.
