Falcons win practice match, stranded on highway US based Mercy Akide scored twice in the 30th and 35th minute followed by Maureen Mmadu in the 41st, while pint sized Vera Okolo made it four on the dot of 45 minutes. Semola Akinlose blasted in the fifth goal just five minutes into the second half leaving the All Stars side to pull one back with a late penalty. Just a practice match Not about to get carried away with her brace, Mercy Akide told www.nigeriasports.com after the match that she does not expect Nigerians' to read meanings into the final result since it was just a practice match. “I am happy with my two goals, and I guess the team will be happy with this result but Ghana is the real McCoy. We need to beat Ghana and do that well. This match to me does not mean anything” Coach Mabo told www.nigeriasports.com that the match was really a practice match and the idea was to test every player he had in camp. “I wanted to field every body in camp and that was why after the first half I was quick to make changes. It is an opportunity for me to assess my girls in real match situations. Good thing we won but the victory means nothing” Ann Chiejine came in for Precious Dede in the second half and lasted only fifteen minutes before making way for Ogechi Onyinanaya. Mabo also cleared out the whole starting line up in the second half of the match. Dede impresses Goalkeeper Precious Dede had the eyes of the sparse crowd on her as not a few had forgotten her heroics at the last World Cup and she did not disappoint. Dede was tested with a long-range effort by the All Stars forwards, but she proved she had lost none of her World Cup form with a flurry of remarkable saves, including one that had the fans on their feet. Stranded on the highway NFA Secretary General Taiwo Ogunjobi said there was no provision for the Falcons to spend the night in Lagos so they had to leave same night for Ibadan in the old Flying Eagles bus which had a flat tire somewhere on the outskirts of Lagos and moved just a little faster than snail speed. 45 minutes later, the team finally got to Ibadan at about 8.30pm after spending more than five hours on the road for a one hour thirty minutes journey. STARTING XI Precious Dede , Felicia Eze , Celestina Onyeka , Effioanwan Ekpo , Yinka Kudaisi , Perpetua Nkwocha , Stella Mbachu , Mercy Akide , Nkechi Egbe , Maureen Mmadu
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