U-20 Women’s W/Cup: Falconets beat France in tough opener

Nigeria has defeated France 1-0 in the opening match of group C at the 10th FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup in Costa Rica.

The Falconets overcame France late in the second half to claim the three points at stake on Friday morning in San Jose.

The tough encounter started with Esther Onyenezide causing panic in the French team’s vital area with an intelligent free kick.

Oyono Omini, Nigeria’s goalkeeper, was able to stop Laurina Fazer’s shot on target a few minutes later.

The referees had to stop the match in the 20th minute when visibility became an issue due to the heavy downpour.

The game resumed exactly one hour after.

Three minutes into the resumption, France almost caused an upset but the defense line came to the rescue.

Shortly after, Magnaba Folquet had to desperately head the ball away from the goal as Nigeria pushed forward.

In the second half, both sides came out gun blazing.

With 20 minutes left on the clock, Falconets’ shot-stopper, once again, stopped a dangerous onslaught with her leg to deny France from getting ahead of Nigeria

In the 72nd minute, substitute Chiamaka Okwuchukwu was hindered from getting anything positive as Flourish Sabastine got a cross into the French vital area.

In the 81st minute, France thought they had scored from a corner but after consultations with VAR, the goal was overruled for a foul on the Falconets’ keeper.

Four minutes later, Sabastine raced onto a brilliant Mercy Idoko’s pass, kept her composure, and slotted past goalkeeper Marie-Morgane Sieber for the only goal of the game.

The Falconets will take on South Korea on Sunday at the Estadio Alajuela Morera Soto.

The Asian side tops the group following a 2-0 win over Canada in the opening game.