Falconets goal scorer Flourish Sabastine has reacted to Nigeria’s hard fought 1-0 win against France, in their Group D opener at the 2022 U-20 women’s World Cup in Costa Rica.
Sabastine was the hero for the Falconets as she scored with just minutes left to give the Falconets the perfect start.
Receiving the ball on the halfway line, Mercy Idoko then sent Sabastine through on goal with the latter slotting past the keeper.
France had the ball at the back of the net with 10 minutes left, but after consultations with VAR the goal was overturned for a foul on Falconets keeper Omini Oyono.
Also Read: 31 Years: Remembering Samuel Okwaraji’s Tragic Death
And commenting on the win, Sabastine wrote on Twitter:”What a game! What a win!
What a way to begin #CostaRica2022
“Thanks so much Nigerians 🇳🇬 for the support through the night. 💪🏿 💚“
Meanwhile in the group’s other game South Korea defeated Canada 2-0 to go top.
The Falconets will now face South Korea in their next group game on Sunday.
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COMMENTS
Nigeria was lucky to get a weak French team. If they had played against USA, it would have been a different story. I guess they would have lost by at least four goals. I watched their game against France and they were just average. Meanwhile, Ghana was unlucky with that red card. Sometimes the god of soccer is not fair at all.
Who be this one?
Weak french team, you normal at all?
After the weak US team trash your strong Ghanian girls, you are now angry that Nigeria won shey? Bad belle finish your life.
the same France that beat Ghana 4;0 in friendly match they played.
I guess it really hurts…Awww must be really a difficult painful experience watching the Nigerian girls put up a great performance with victory against a world class opponent France.Sorry
Remember that Nigeria won against the champions of Europe at that level, France. May be you didn’t watch the match.
Yeboah, you are not fair with your judgments and commentary on the Nigerian girls Ghanaians girls are not good representatives of African football during their match against USA, most of their players came to the tournament to display their “heavy big yansh” which grossly affected their performances on the pitch.
I pray these Ghanaians will improve in their next and make Africa proud again
Hahahaha envy go kill you , weak France team indeed , the France team that beat your Ghanaian team wotowoto 4 – 0 in a friendly before the world cup proper !!…na bad belle go kill you , any way , as African brother, we wish Ghana all the best !!..If Falconet beat Korea , then know it that we are lifting this cup !!
You are just an arrant jealous fool, as an african, look at the quality of your thinking. Instead of encouraging the players, you are busy comparing. Ghana can never grow because it keeps comparing itself with Nigeria. Low thinkers
the same France that beat Ghana 4;0 in friendly match they played.
So European champions are now “weak”, abi? The rantings of delusion. He’s in severe pains as a result of envy. E shock am.
Na so the opponents weak for commonwealth games where Ghana had a paltry 5 medals no Gold and came 28th….These fools think we are competing ting with them when Naija no even see them lol. This idiotic fool called Yeboah knows the same Ghanian u20 lost to France 4-0 in a friendly before the tournament and has the audacity to call them a weak French team lol….Na envy go kill you Ghanaians with you 31% inflation lol
Mr Football Fanatic, the thing tire me o! Even in the Afcon that we crashed out via the slimmest of margins against Tunisia, our group stage performances were still head and shoulders above that of pitiful Ghana (who resorted to agbero behaviour in one of their matches).
Eguavoen messed up badly in the second half in Abuja which is why these Ghanaian interlopers even have a voice.
After this Under-20 women’s world cup, there is also the Under-17 women’s world cup in October that Ghana didn’t even qualify for…..
Commonwealth games : failure.
Afcon: wretched outing.
Under-17 wafu: failure.
Under-20 Wafu: failure.
Wafcon: no show.
Under-20 women’s world cup: heading for failure.
Under-17 women’s world cup: no show.
Thier singular achievement this year is pippin Nigeria to Qatar World Cup qualification. Even that, they only achieved by the skin of their away goal’s teeth.
The compilation of Ghanaian failure in national team football in 2022 is there for all to see!
I think these Ghanaians are delusional asf…….They always want to find negativity in everything Nigeria does rather than support thei fellow African brothers and they want to move forward as a country…I doubt that with such hate in them.
Deo, permit me to add one more to your list.
Qatar 2022 world cup: WOTOWOTO LOADING.
Abeg let us leave yeboah, I believe the guy just want to pull traffic ni jare He can’t be serious about His comment.
He is just trying to pull our legs. Am sure in the guy mind He will be like “let me post this and see how their reactions will be”
Pompei, some comments do not deserve a response. On another note, when I was watching the Japan v Netherlands match, the referee, Akhona Makalima, caught my eye. She is the same one who officiated one of the Wafcon matches (when you commented about certain features of hers). I think you had a crush on her. 🙂 🙂 🙂
https://youtu.be/RYvpDJzL9F4
Hahahaha, the woman carry big load.
Na Monkey Post wey she confuse. He has almost abandoned Plumptre because of this lady.
E no dey take eye see woman. Yet, bride price e no gree pay.
@Deo, e be like say you see take style get crush on her to do some research on her like this…..lol.
I get her numbers o if you wan solidify your interest
Hahaha… Dr Banks, wetin we go do na…. 🙂 🙂
You are just an arrant jealous fool, as an african, look at the quality of your thinking. Instead of encouraging the players, you are busy comparing. Ghana can never grow because it keeps comparing itself with Nigeria. Low thinkers
* Nigeria vs France : 1 – 0, Retrospective Review *
It was always a headline to pull at the heartstrings of Super Falconets fans: European Champions consisting of Champions League players 0: Homebased Falconets of Nigeria 1, it doesn’t read sweeter, or taste yummier than that.
Not a lot of fans expected this scoreline as a draw would have been more than sufficient against an eloquent side that put Ghana to the sword just recently. It is safe to say that Danjuma’s damsels exceeded all expectations in this encounter.
But the question is, can they exceed expectations for the remainder of the tournament? For me it is too soon to call.
Their performance yesterday was electric and the outcome was electrifying but I am praying that they don’t peak too early.
Affable coach Chris Danjuma, who received one of the warmest hugs I have ever seen from a rival female coach yesterday after the match, talked up the Indomitable Nigerian spirit ahead of this match.
That Nigerian spirit however comes in handy when a Nigerian national team have their backs against the wall. Whenever they experience early success, they seldom seem to know how to manage that success: complacency creeps in and failure follows (may that not be the portion of this Falconets team).
So, Danjuma now needs to call on something beyond ‘Nigerian Spirit’ for the remainder of the competition.
Against France yesterday, his team were on top form. Both teams had sought to cancel each other out which made for a cagey, yet enthralling, engaging and entertaining encounter.
And when Sebastian latched on to an eloquent defence splitting through pass from Idoko in 85 minutes, the outcome was inevitable as she raced through and stabbed in with fiendish intent for Nigeria’s only and winning goal – little wonder she was carried into the dressing room like a princess for her priceless goal against one of the most formidable outfit Nigeria would face in the tournament.
The question was whether the players would carry through their bombastic displays on the continent to the global stage against illustrious oppositions and the players answered in emphatic style.
Idoko, Sebastian, Onyenezide, Demehin and Imuran all gave exemplary performances. The other players were equally business-like, focused, professional and exciting to watch.
Starting with a loosely looking 4-4-2 formation, it shape-shifted to the 4-3-3 used in qualifiers and diamond 4-4-2 (which led to the goal as a withdrawn centrally located Idoko had the option of 2 strikers to pick from with the wingers behind her and a defensive midfielder behind them).
In the first half, Nigeria crowded out the French thus preventing the Europeans from settling into a rhythm. Esther Onyenezide injected flair into the game with nifty footworks and eloquent swivels to peel off her markers.
Before the rain-induced suspension, Nigeria were surprisingly the aggressors having started like a house on fire. Nigeria tried to play out from behind on occasions and also attempted long balls but the French did match our physicality and they too stifled a lot of Nigeria’s attacking initiatives from midfield before reaching deep in their box 18.
Rofiat Imuran was driving the ball forward from left back with silky skills and Esther Onyenezide was delivering some neat crosses with Nigeria winning freekicks in delicate areas. But the game remained cagey but fun to watch nonetheless.
As the first half drew to a close, a freekick delivery from Demehin was embarrassingly wayward; Nigeria defended corners with 2 players by each goalpost which was reassuring; Nigeria’s crosses lacked conviction severally; our defenders (particularly fullbacks) were quick to come out thus being easily drawn out of position and a careless side short pass to the goalkeeper by fullback Alani went unpunished.
In the second half, both teams continued to slug it out deep in midfield with France somewhat getting the best of the exchanges as they were slowly growing into the match. Sebastian was felled in box 18 but there was nothing-doing from the referee.
Our fullbacks and defensive midfielders continued to coordinate and combine to keep France at bay which created openings for France along our flanks.
Esther Onyenezide was showing glimpses of what she offers with silky wing play and crosses that almost led to a goal but Idoko’s sublime shot after flooring 2 French defenders drew an excellent foot save from the goalkeeper – Esther will be a handful for defenders in games to come.
Demehin was also having a fabulous game at the back – running to the line of fire to effect telling interceptions and also floating at speed to support her right fullback Alani. Demehin – a truly inspirational leader.
Before her goal, Sebastian bobbed and weaved across 2 defenders to the byline before cutting the ball back into danger.
The 80th minute saw France’ goal off a corner kick chopped off by VAR for goalkeeper obstruction before Idoko’s through pass and Sebastian’s lightning run and frightening finish saw Nigeria take the day in thrilling style.
In summary, Danjuma’s femme fatales were coherent and articulate in their play across the park. That said, deliveries from crosses and set piece routines can be better.
The Falconets are (surprisingly) in superb physical shape. Yesterday, they were well conditioned athletes with exceptional mental fortitude and physical agility. Players like Imuran, Sebastian and Onyenezide injected flair into their game.
Their game was refined in areas and they exhibited high quality chemistry that is ample reward for all the months they spent together. They had a clear vision and a game plan which was carried out to the letter.
You cannot praise them enough for this heartwarming victory against a powerhouse of world football across levels and gender. The Falconets have definitely set a marker with this victory and their status as tournament favourites is fully formed.
Danjuma just has to be mindful of not falling into the satanic trappings of early success. The NFF should pay all bonuses as and when due.
With a continued business-like approach, focus and dedication with all the players firing on all cylinders, this team will cruise at the right altitude for the remainder of the tournament.
NFF must not owe these ones too. Pls
Abeg let us leave yeboah, I believe the guy just want to pull traffic ni jare He can’t be serious about His comment.
He is just trying to pull our legs. Am sure in the guy mind He will be like “let me post this and see how their reactions will be”
NFF must not owe these ones too. Pls