Ijamilusi announces herself to Super Falcons fans and four other takeaways from Nigeria's win v Algeria

Nigeria's Super Falcons secured back-to-back wins over Algeria in friendly matches held in Ikenne and Lagos.

Nigeria defeated Algeria 2-0 last week, with Rasheedat Ajibade scoring both goals. The Falcons followed up with another win, clinching a 4-1 victory over Algeria in Lagos on Tuesday afternoon.

Nigeria opened the scoring in the 10th minute when Edo Queens striker Folashade Ijamilusi found the net, slotting home a layoff header from Monday Gift after a corner kick.

Ijamilusi netted her second goal by pouncing on a rebound after a shot from Blessing hit the upright.

Algeria pulled one back in the 40th minute, with substitute Alouache Ouassila slotting home while capitalizing on a parried shot by Nigerian keeper Unachukwu.

Less than five minutes later, Monday Gift restored Nigeria's lead, heading home a precise corner from Esther Onyenezide. 

Ijamilusi completed her hat-trick in the 86th minute, calmly slotting in a loose ball after a poor parry by goalkeeper Salah Amel.

Allnigeriasoccer.com presents five observations from the contest.

Coach Justin Magudu Starts Four Foreign Players

In preparation for upcoming games, Coach Justin Magudu has chosen to give playing time to high-performing local talents across the country.

Against Algeria, Magudu included four foreign-based professionals—Rasheedat Ajibade, Tosin Demehin, Esther Onyenezide, and Monday Gift—in the starting lineup.

This approach allowed domestic players to gain valuable experience with the national team and showcase their potential ahead of future tournaments.

Dominant First-Half Performance

The Super Falcons showcased a commanding display against Algeria, dominating in every aspect—passing, physicality, cohesion, and movement.

Nigeria capped off their performance with three goals in the first half. Although Algeria showed brief promise following a tactical adjustment from their manager, Nigeria quickly regained control and finished the half firmly on the front foot.

Tactical Adjustment in the First Half

After initially struggling against the Falcons, Algeria's coach made two tactical changes to help his team neutralize the Nigerian attack and create scoring opportunities.

Coach Farid Benstiti brought on Taleb Muller to replace Belkhiter Morgane and introduced Alouache Ouassila in place of Bouzid W.

The strategy paid off as Algeria earned a penalty after an incisive play by one of the substitutes inside the box, though the spot kick was ultimately sent over the crossbar.

Algeria continued to press and soon reduced the deficit when another substitute scored, capitalizing on a rebound after the Falcons' goalkeeper parried a long-range shot.

However, their efforts to close the gap were short-lived, as Monday Gift restored Nigeria's two-goal lead just minutes before halftime.

Folashade Ijamilusi Announces Herself to Super Falcons Fans

Given the opportunity to start for Nigeria in a friendly against Algeria in Lagos, Folashade Ijamilusi made an immediate impact.

The Edo Queens striker showcased her abilities, posing a relentless threat to the Algerian defense with her strength, speed, positioning, and sharp movement.

Ijamilusi capped off her impressive performance with a first-half brace, scoring in the 10th and 18th minutes to put Nigeria firmly in control. She completed her hat-trick in the 86th minute, calmly slotting in a loose ball after a poor parry by goalkeeper Salah Amel.

Algeria Struggles with Falcons' Set-Pieces

Nigeria delivered a commanding 4-1 victory over Algeria in Lagos, with the Algerian defense particularly struggling to handle the Falcons' set-piece threats.

Nigeria's first two goals came from aerial situations, as Algeria was unable to effectively clear balls inside the box.

Adeyemi Adewale

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