Falcons fly past Algeria with brace from Ajibade

By Tosin Omojola

Captain Rasheedat Ajibade delivered a superb first-half brace as the Super Falcons, featuring mostly local league players, defeated Algeria in a friendly in Ikenne today.

Atletico Madrid forward Ajibade scored in the 21st minute and again in first-half stoppage time to lead the Falcons past an Algerian team predominantly made up of foreign-based players.

Both teams are set to play a second friendly in Lagos on Tuesday.

The Falcons started with five foreign-based players, while the rest of the lineup came from the domestic league. The foreign-based players were Chiamaka Nnadozie in goal, Tosin Demehin in defense, Esther Onyenezide in midfield, with Gift Monday and Ajibade in attack.

This match provided an opportunity for the locally based players to demonstrate their capability at this level of the game.

Interim coach Justin Madugu stated he would only select newly capped players based on “extraordinary” performances.