The Super Falcons on Monday lost their last Group A matches against the host, France on Monday, in what has been described as “the most contentious moment of the Women’s World Cup so far.”
The defeat means the Falcons’ hope of advancing in the tournament rests on other teams’ performances, which could see them emerge as one of the four best third-place teams.
The Falcons lost the game 0-1 via a spot-kick on the 75th minute at the 28,000 capacity Roazhon Park in Rennes.
Les Bleus were awarded a penalty after a video assistant review when Ngozi Ebere fouled Viviane Asseyi in the box. Centre-back Renard stepped up to take it and missed – hitting the outside of the right post. But VAR intervened, judging 18-year-old Super Falcons keeper Chiamaka Nnadozie to have moved off her line early.
Reacting to the loss, the Falcons, in a Twitter statement, described their effort as “a glorious showing.”
FT’ in Rennes: #NGA 0-1 #FRA – @NGSuper_Falcons bowed narrowly to the hosts but they produced a glorious showing. They will wait for the outcome of games in the other groups to confirm their place in the last 16. #SoarSuperFalcons #Team9jaStrong #DareToShine #NGAFRA @thenff
— NGSuper_Falcons (@NGSuper_Falcons) June 17, 2019
