By 
Nigeria’s female national team, Super Falcons got into various shades of highlights in their 2-0 loss to Canada, megasportsarena.com reports.
That was seen in how Uchenna Kanu copped a serious looking injury, Rasheedat Ajibade nearly narrowed the scoreline, while brilliant goalkeeping efforts were executed by Chiamaka Nnadozie and Tochukwu Oluehi.
However, despite the gritty efforts of Randy Waldrum’s lasses, the eight-time and current African champions could not hold their own till the very end in the first of two friendlies against the Canadians.
While the African champions struggled for rhythm early on, their hosts and current Olympic Games champions settled down fast to take control of proceedings at BC Place Stadium in Vancouver, Canada.
Canada broke the deadlock in the 50th minute, as second half goals from Jessie Fleming and Vanessa Gilles, as the hosts created more scoring chances.
The hosts almost doubled their lead on 62 minutes but were denied by Nnadozie who made multiple saves to keep the scoreline at 1-0.
Canada’s persistence in front of goal was rewarded as they got the second on 72 minutes through Vanessa Gilles.
The doubleheader friendly games are part of preparations for the Falcons ahead of this year’s women’s AFCON in Morocco billed for July.
Both teams will meet again on Tuesday, at 3:30am Nigeria time, in Victoria, heading into which the Falcons will relive how they toiled gallantly in the early hours of Saturday.
Waldrum’s side, though, could not stand firm till the end, as Chelsea midfielder Fleming and ex-Bordeaux center back Gilles scored for the hosts in the second half.
Fleming got Canada on the mark in the 51st minute, her fifteenth goal for her country, with a powerful shot from inside the box.
Gilles doubled the hosts’ lead with 18 minutes left to play with a perfect header from a corner kick which Oluehi, who replaced Nnadozie, could not keep out despite her commendable performance when she came on.
However, after conceding the second goal, Oluehi was splendid and never seemed like letting in another goal against the Canadians.
Nnadozie was in splendid form as she kept the African champions in the game early on with strings of impressive saves.
The Falcons’ solid defensive solidity frustrated the quartet of Jessie Fleming, Desiree Scot, Quinn and Christine Sinclair, with Leicester City’s Ashleigh Plumptre making a vital clearance in the 27th minute.
Ajibade let fly a long range effort to force a save from Canada’s keeper, Stephanie Labbe to win the first free kick of the game for Nigeria with half an hour played.
Two minutes before the break, Uchenna Kanu was clear on goal but eventually dispossessed off the ball by Kadeisha Buchanan.
Canada’s Christine Sinclair had the last chance of the first half but failed to make good progress before the Nigerian defence cleared the ball.
The Falcons made raft of changes in the second half at different times with Rita Chikwelu substituted early in the second half by Michelle Alozie.
Later in the game, Kanu was stretchered off for a serious injury and replaced by Oyin Echegini.
Falcons’ starting line-up: Nnadozie, Plumptre, Ebi, Ogbonna, Nicole Payne, Chikwelu, Ajibade, Toni Payne, Kanu, Ucheibe, Onumonu.
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