France head coach Laurent Bonadie has praised Super Falcons goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie for her outstanding display despite Nigeria’s 2-1 defeat to Les Bleues in an international friendly on Saturday night.
Softfootball understands that Nnadozie delivered another impressive performance in Angers, producing eight crucial saves to keep Nigeria in the contest against the highly-rated French side.
France took the lead in the 27th minute through veteran striker Eugénie Le Sommer before Amel Majri doubled the hosts’ advantage after beating the Nigerian goalkeeper.
The Super Falcons responded before the break when Ifeoma Onumonu finished off a swift counterattack to reduce the deficit and give Nigeria renewed hope.
Despite France dominating large spells of the game, Nnadozie repeatedly denied the hosts with a string of brilliant saves, earning praise from Bonadie after the final whistle.
The French coach admitted his side found it difficult to put the game beyond Nigeria because of the Super Falcons’ defensive organisation and the brilliance of their goalkeeper.
He noted that Nigeria remained a difficult team to break down throughout the encounter and acknowledged Nnadozie’s key role in keeping the scoreline respectable.
Bonadie said the Paris FC shot-stopper produced several excellent saves and expressed satisfaction with his team’s overall performance despite failing to convert more of their chances.
Nnadozie’s latest display further reinforces her growing reputation as one of Africa’s finest goalkeepers, with the 24-year-old continuing to impress for both club and country through a series of consistent performances on the international stage.
