ABC Cup: Gift Monday brace secures Super Falcons win against Mali

By Saheed Afolabi

The Super Falcons of Nigeria began their quest to win the maiden edition of the Aisha Buhari Cup by defeating the Malian female national team side 2-0 at Mobolaji Johnson stadium, Onikan Lagos.

FC Robo Queens captain, Gift Monday was the hero for the Super Falcons in the match as she came on as a substitute in the second half of the game to net a brace following a great assist of brace from the Super Falcons captain Asisat Oshoala.

The first half didn’t record any goal as the Super Falcons failed to engineer any goal in the final third of the match with the likes of Francisca Ordega, Desire Oparanozie and Asisat Oshoala coming close.

The Malian side failed to torment the Super Falcons defense as they played a lone striker forward leaving her to chase the ball in the entire duration of the first half.

Super Falcons right back, Alozie was lucky not to receive a red card in the first half as her marking weren’t good enough but she had a good game with her attacking prowess before been substituted at the end of the first 45 minutes.

The Super Falcons showed more intent to get a goal in the second half as some couple of chances came their way but they couldn’t utilize them, which made the coach bring on Gift Monday for the tricky winger Francisca Ordega.

The change actually brought a relief to the Super Falcons as Gift Monday scored the first goal of the match with a clinical header following a cross from the captain of the side Asisat Oshoala.

Another assist from Asisat Oshoala which came through an header splitter the defense line of the Malian side, which made Gift Monday to make a dazzling run behind the defense line before lifting the ball over the onrushing goalie to double the Super Falcons lead and also got her a brace in the game.

The Super Falcons will play South Africa next in the Aisha Buhari Cup and all matches will be played at Mobolaji Johnson stadium, Onikan Lagos.