Paris 2024: Echegini Scores Super Falcons 1st Goal, Shows Why She’s Highly Rated by Okocha

Paris 2024: Echegini Scores Super Falcons 1st Goal, Shows Why She’s Highly Rated by Okocha

  • Jennifer Echegini scored the Super Falcons’ only goal in their 3-1 loss to Japan in their third group game
  • Nigeria have been eliminated from the Paris 2024 Olympics after finishing bottom of Group C
  • She is highly rated by Nigerian legend Austin Jay-Jay Okocha, who announced her move to PSG

Jenifer Echegini scored Nigeria’s first goal at the Paris 2024 Olympics, but Nigeria bowed out of the competition after losing their third group game 3-1 to Japan.

Japan raced to a 2-0 lead in the first 30 minutes, but the new Paris Saint-Germain forward popped up with a beautiful goal to give the Nigerian women's team hope just before halftime.

Jennifer Echegini scores past Japanese goalkeeper Ayaka Yamashita.
Jennifer Echegini fires an unstoppable shot past Japanese goalkeeper Ayaka Yamashita. Photo by Robert Cianflone.
Source: Getty Images

However, the Japanese dented that hope again with their third goal through Hikaru Kitagawa in the additional minutes of the first half to lead 3-1 at halftime.However, the Japanese dented that hope again with their third goal through Hikaru Kitagawa in the additional minutes of the first half to lead 3-1 at halftime.

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The Falcons battled hard in the second half, but there were no goals and were lucky not to concede a fourth after the video assistant referee overturned a Japanese penalty.

As noted by BBC, they had a similar record to the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where they lost three games, scored one and conceded five in a group that also had Brazil.

Echegini scores brilliant goal

Echegini started the opening match’s 1-0 loss to Brazil but was dropped for the 1-0 loss to Spain. He was trusted to start in the final game and repaid Randy Waldrum's faith.

As seen in footage on social media, she received the ball in front of the box and made a quick one-two exchange with Christy Ucheibe before unleashing an unstoppable left-footed shot past goalkeeper Ayaka Yamashita.

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It was her second goal for the Super Falcons, her first at a major tournament, and the first coming in a 3-0 friendly win over New Zealand in Turkey last year.

Nigerian football legend Austin Jay-Jay Okocha highly rates the striker, and he welcomed her to Paris Saint-Germain after the youngster joined from Juventus.

Okocha welcomes Echegini to PSG

Legit.ng reported that Okocha welcomed Jennifer Echegini to PSG after the young Super Falcons striker moved to the French club from Italian club Juventus.

The 1994 AFCON winner, who played for the current French champions for four years, made an announcement video for the club, asking them to take care of his sister.

Source: Legit.ng

Authors:
Elijah Odetokun avatar

Elijah Odetokun (Sports Editor) Elijah Odetokun is a Nigerian sports editor at Legit.ng. He has four years of working experience and holds a Bachelor of Agriculture from the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, and a Diploma in Freelance and Sports Writing from the London School of Journalism. Email: elijah.odetokun@sportsbrief.com