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U-20 Women World Cup qualifier: Nigeria beat Tanzania 3-0

By Alemma-Ozioruva Aliu, Benin City 
17 September 2017   |   4:20 am
Nigeria’s Falconets yesterday defeated visiting Tanzania’s U-20 team 3-0 in the first leg of their France 2018 FIFA Women World Cup qualifier held at the Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin.

Nigeria’s Falconets yesterday defeated visiting Tanzania’s U-20 team 3-0 in the first leg of their France 2018 FIFA Women World Cup qualifier held at the Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin.

A brace by striker Ajibade Rasheedat and a lone strike by defender Rule Lillian deflated the visitors, who appeared no match for the hosts in the game watched by a large crowd of fans, including top Edo government officials and Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) big wigs.

The score line would have been higher if the Nigerian girls did not waste many chances in a match they clearly dominated right from the blast of the whistle by the center referee, Togo’s Vincentia Enyonam Amedome.

Nigeria opened scores in the 21st minute when Lillian neatly converted a free kick close to the Tanzanians’ box following a foul by Tanzania’s defender, Mohamed Khadija, who brought down a Nigerian player at the edge of the box.

The Tanzanian goalkeeper, Migomba Gelwa was clearly her side’s star performer as she dived, punched and blocked the Falconets’ efforts at scoring.

In the second half, Mary, who could not form an effective partnership with Rasheedat, was replaced by Reuben Charity, whose presence gave Rasheedat the opportunity to run on the Tanzanians.

She got the second goal for the Falconets when she ran with the ball from near the center circle to beat the Tanzanian keeper in the 59th minutes.

Rasheedat lost a clear chance in the 62nd minute, but she made scores 3-0 shortly after when she converted a defence splitting pass from Sunday Anu.

The second leg of the qualifier will hold in Dar es Salaam on September 30 with the winner on aggregate meeting the winner of the Morocco/Senegal clash in the second round in November.

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