Goals from Esther Okoronkwo and Asisat Oshoala were all the Super Falcons needed to confirm their superiority and record a 2-1 win over Haiti in a pre-World Cup friendly at the Emirhan Sports Center Stadium on Friday.
The Super Falcons dominated the early proceedings against the Haitians but struggled to make their impact felt on the scoreboard.
Save for a couple of free-kicks from Haiti, all the first-half chances went Nigeria’s way.
Oshoala got into a promising position and sent a snapshot just wide off-target after a good cross from Alozie.
The momentum was with the Nigerian ladies, and it was no surprise when Randy Waldrum’s girls finally took the lead. Esther Okoronkwo broke the deadlock from a superbly taken free kick on the edge of the area.
Oshoala should have made it two-nil, but the Barcelona ace was narrowly beaten to a header following a sumptuous delivered cross.
Another side-footed effort from Ajibade then grazed the post after she was well set up in the area.
And just before the break, Oshoala somehow missed the ball with the net at her mercy.
However, Nigeria doubled their advantage with their first foray forward. From a corner kick, Jennifer Echegini’s towering header came off the crossbar, and Oshoala was on hand to tap the rebound home.
It is the Barcelona striker’s first game for Nigeria since the opening match of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in July, and it was nice to see her mark it with a goal.
The former Arsenal star almost grabbed her second of the encounter on the hour-mark, but the goalkeeper made a brilliant save from close range.
Coach Waldrum sent on Desire Oparanozie shortly after for the captain’s first match for Nigeria in four years, but it was Oshoala who continued to be Nigeria’s most dangerous attacker.