Super Falcons captain Rasheedat Ajibade scored twice in the first half to inspire Nigeria to a comfortable 2-0 victory over Algeria in an international friendly at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne, Ogun State.
The Atletico Madrid forward delivered a captain’s performance, finding the net in either half of the opening 45 minutes to give interim head coach Justine Madugu a winning start in front of the home fans. Softfootball understands that the victory is another confidence booster for the nine-time African champions as they continue preparations for future international assignments.
Ajibade broke the deadlock in the 24th minute after latching onto a perfectly weighted long pass from midfield before calmly lifting the ball over the advancing Algerian goalkeeper.
The Super Falcons continued to dominate possession and create chances, with their attacking pressure paying off again deep into first-half stoppage time.
Ajibade doubled Nigeria’s advantage in spectacular fashion, unleashing a brilliant first-time volley from outside the penalty area that flew into the top corner, leaving the Algerian goalkeeper with no chance.
The second half saw the Falcons comfortably manage the game while maintaining control, denying the visitors any clear opportunities to stage a comeback.
The fixture was the first of two scheduled friendly matches between both nations, with the return encounter set to take place on Tuesday, October 29, at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Lagos.
Madugu will be hoping his side can build on the encouraging performance as the Super Falcons continue preparations for upcoming international competitions.
