Nigeria’s Super Falcons may have suffered a 2-1 defeat to France in an international friendly on Saturday night at Stade Raymond Kopa, but the match was one for the history books.
The Falcons made history despite a 2-1 defeat to France, breaking a long-standing goal drought against the European giants.
It was a historic moment for the nine-time African champions, who had never scored against France in their previous encounters.
However, on this occasion, Montpellier forward Ifeoma Onumonu smashed her way into the record books, scoring Nigeria’s first-ever goal against Les Bleues just before halftime.
The match, which was always going to be a tough challenge for an understrength Super Falcons side, saw France, ranked 10th in the FIFA Women’s World Rankings, start strong.
With key players like Asisat Oshoala and Rasheedat Ajibade missing, Nigeria struggled to contain the attacking power of France.
Les Bleues quickly asserted their dominance with two goals in the first half. In the 21st minute, Eugénie Le Sommer fired France ahead, exploiting a lapse in Nigeria’s defense. Just minutes later, Amel Majri doubled the lead with a well-placed shot, putting Nigeria in a difficult position.
Despite the two-goal deficit, the Super Falcons breakthrough came in the 45th minute, moments before the halftime whistle.
France’s failure to capitalize on the last corner kick of the half allowed Nigeria to counterattack. Ifeoma Onumonu sprinted the length of the pitch, capitalizing on a loose ball, and fired a powerful shot past French goalkeeper Sarah Bouhaddi, making it 2-1.
The goal was a testament to Onumonu’s speed and precision and was met with wild celebrations from the Nigerian squad.
That goal not only marked Nigeria’s first-ever strike against France but also breathed new life into the game.
The Super Falcons had previously faced France three times without scoring, suffering heavy defeats in the process. Onumonu’s goal broke that long-standing drought and gave Nigeria something to build on for the remainder of the match.
In the second half, both teams continued to push for goals, but despite France’s dominance, Nigeria held their ground.
Goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie was particularly impressive, making several key saves to keep the Falcons in the contest. Her reflexes were sharp, particularly when she denied France’s attempts from close range.
Defensively, Nigeria was solid, with Ashleigh Plumptre putting in an excellent performance at center-back.
Plumptre, returning to her preferred position after a period of injury, was calm and composed, providing the defensive stability needed to thwart France’s attacking waves.
She formed a formidable partnership with veteran Osinachi Ohale, although the latter’s evening ended on a sour note.
Ohale was shown two yellow cards in quick succession late in the game, culminating in a red card—her first in 14 years of international football. Despite this setback, Nigeria’s defense stood firm, and they limited France’s chances in the second half.
In the grand scheme of things, this match added another chapter to Nigeria’s growing rivalry with France. Despite suffering their fourth consecutive loss to the French, the Super Falcons showed they could compete at the highest level, even when not at full strength.
For Onumonu, the goal was a career-defining moment. Her performance, along with Nnadozie’s saves and Plumptre’s defensive leadership, were key highlights for Nigeria, offering hope as they prepare for future challenges, including the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) campaign.
With 2024 marking a year of mixed results for Nigeria—4 wins, 2 draws, and 4 losses—the Super Falcons will aim to build on this historic performance and use it as a springboard for greater success in the coming months.
