Falconets defeat Congo 2-1 at home

Early goals by Chinaza Uchendu and Chinwendu Ihezuo saw the U-20 Women National Team, Falconets defeat their hosts, DR Congo 2-1 in a 2016 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup qualifying match in Kinshasa on Sunday.

Uchendu, who also scored for the Super Falcons at the 11thAll-Africa Games in Brazzaville earlier this month, shot the Falconets ahead after only six minutes, and it took just another six minutes for Ihezuo to consolidate for the Falconets.

Nigeria is the reigning vice champion of the world in the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup and the Falconets took complete control of the game after those two goals, hoping to add to the tally. However, the first half ended 2-0.

Ihezuo, top goalscorer of the 2012 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, and who was in the silver –winning Falconets at the 2014 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Canada, led the charge upfront but poor finishing robbed Nigeria of more goals.

In the second half, the Congolese, egged on by the home crowd, improved their game and scored a consolation goal. Their search for the equalizer was thwarted by the Falconets’ defence -line.

The match in Kinshasa was the first leg of the third round, qualifying fixture for the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup scheduled for Papua New Guinea next year. The return leg comes up at the National Stadium, Abuja on Saturday, October 10.

The winner of the fixture will clash with the winner of the fixture between South Africa and Zambia, for a place in Papua New Guinea. Zambia hosted the two teams’ first leg in Lusaka on Sunday.
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