Nigeria’s Super Falcons fell to a 2-0 defeat in the hands of the Nadeshiko of Japan in an international friendly match at the Noevir Stadium in Kobe on Thursday.
Two second-half goals by Japan’s Mina Tanaka condemned the Super Falcons to five straight defeats.
Nigerian senior women’s national football team could not keep up with the pace of the Japanese side in the game.
A string of brilliant saves by first-choice goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie kept Nigeria in the game in the first half.
But Randy Waldrum ladies almost took a surprise lead when defender Ashleigh Plumptre struck the woodwork from a free-kick.
Japan opened scoring in the 65th minute when forward Tanaka received a pass from a team mate in the penalty area, she chested it and blasted a shot past Nnadozie in the goalpost.
Her second goal came three minutes later, from the penalty spot, after a harsh challenge from Osinachi Ohale on an advancing Japanese forward in the Nigeria area.
Both teams used the game as part of their preparations for next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup finals in Australia and New Zealand.
In September, the Super Falcons had lost in a double header friendly to the American senior female national team.