The Super Falcons stepped up their preparations for the 2018 Women’s World Cup in France after coming from a goal down to beat Hungarian women’s first division club Haladas Viktoria 5-1 in a pre-tournament friendly on Tuesday.
A brace from Asisat Oshoala and strikes from Chinwendo Ihezuo, Francisca Ordega, and Ogonna Chukwudi sealed a comfortable win for the Falcons.
Haladas Viktoria took an early lead in the seventh minute but Chinwendo Ihezuo restored parity in the 32nd minute, finishing off a fine assist from Ordega.
At the start of the second half, Ordega’s powerful header three minutes after the hour mark from Ngozi Okobi’s corner-kick put the Falcons 2-1 ahead.
With 20 minutes left to play, coach Thomas Dennerby subbed off the starting line-up, replacing them with Oshoala, Amarachi Okoronkwo, Chidinma Okeke, Alice Ogebe, Anam Imo, Chinaza Uchendu, Ngozi Ebere, Evelyn Nwabuoku, Ogonna Chukwudi and Uchenna Kanu.
The change made an instant impact with Oshoala hitting a double in a space of two minutes. Both goals were assisted by Chinaza Uchendu.
Kanu came close to making it 5-1 but her header went inches wide in the 80th minute.
Ogonna Chukwudi sealed the emphatic win scoring the fifth goal for the Falcons off a pass from Anam Imo.
The Falcons will play another friendly before they depart Australia where they are on a two-week residential camping.
The Nigerian team will leave for France on June 4. They will play Norway, Korea Republic and hosts France, in that order, in the group phase of the 2019 Women’s World Cup.
