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Nigeria and Canada played out a pulsating 1-1 draw in the Tofig Bahramov stadium, but the African side will feel they deserved all three points.

Nigeria Flamingoes dominated the first-half and coach Peter Dedevbo will wondering how his side came in at the break without a goal to their name. Amandine Pierre-Louise’s one-on-one with Gift Andy was all that broke the early pressure.

However the Nigerian onslaught continued as they hit the woodwork three times before the break. Chinwendu Ihezuo rattled the bar with a header after a short-corner routine, before Jiroro Ideke’s inswinging corner left Sheridan flapping as it cannoned off the car again.

But Chidinma Edeji arguably had the best chance of the lot, arriving late onto a loose ball four yards out, hammering a shot onto the upright with Sheridan helpless. The trend continued after half-time, with Ihezuo hitting the post with another header, before Adeboyejo forced Sheridan into a full-length save.

Then came the hammer blow. Substitute Nichelle Prince slipped in the lively Pierre-Louise, who charged into the area and fired ferociously past Andy.

Nigeria looked stunned, and were less fruitful in the following minutes. However they regrouped and again looked the better side.

The African side spurned further chances, but they eventually got the goal that didn’t look like coming. Adeboyejo’s cross from the left was blocked, but played in the reboundand Ihezuo volleys home the goal she richly deserved.

They then pushed for a winner, but ultimately had to be content with a point.

• Amandine PIERRE-LOUIS (CAN) 63′,
• Chinwendu IHEZUO (NGA) 81′

[Culled from FIFA.Com. Photo credit: Getty Images]