International Football
FOR THE 5TH TIME, SUPER FALCONS BROUGHT DOWN BY CHINA
Nigeria’s women national team, the Super Falcons have again lost to China in a four-nation tournament on Thursday.
The Nigerian side lost 0-3 to their hosts. It was the fifth time in seven encounters that the Chinese have beaten Nigeria. Nigeria only beat china once, a 3-2 win in a 2003 friendly match.
Their last encounter before that of Thursday ended 2-2 nine years ago.
On Thursday, China’s Steel Roses were in front after only 10 minutes and then rocked Nigeria’s net in the 65th and 92nd minutes to condemn the nine –time African champions to defeat at the Huitang Stadium.
Goalkeeper Tochukwu Oluehi, carrying on from where she left off at the Women Africa Cup of Nations in Ghana, made a number of commendable saves, but the onslaughts were relentless from a Chinese squad that played about 10 friendly games in Australia last month.
Zhang Rui got China’s first in the 10th minute, before Li Ying got a brace in the 65th and 92nd minutes to give the 13, 618 spectators joy.
Nigeria clearly missed immediate past African Player of the Year, Asisat Oshoala, as well as left back Ngozi Ebere and power forward Desire Oparanozie who could not make it to the Far East.
Nigeria will now take on Romania, who lost by the same margin to Korea Republic earlier on Thursday, in Sunday’s third place match also at the Huitang Stadium. The match will begin at 3pm China time (8am Nigeria time).
Coach Thomas Dennerby said: “We are here to prepare for the FIFA World Cup and we are learning a lot. I have always said that we need to play as many friendly matches as possible.
“I believe we need to work extremely hard in the next five months before the World Cup.”