African champions, Nigeria fought valiantly but eventually lost by the odd goal to host nation France in Rennes yesterday as the curtain was drawn on Group A of the Eighth FIFA Women's World Cup finals. It was a similar result when both teams last met at the World Cup - in Germany eight years ago.
Centre -back Wendy Renard drove the ball past goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie at the second time of trying in the 78th minute of a well -attended encounter at the 28,000 -capacity Roazhon Park. Renard bundled the first kick against the upright but Nnadozie was adjudged to have moved both feet off the goal-line before the kick (contravention of a new rule), and was penalized.
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