Football: Women’s Three-Nations Friendly tournament   |21 February 2022

Bibi (in red) scored a brace in Seychelles’ 4-0 win against ‘the Daughters of the Waves’ of the Maldives

Bibi scores brace as Seychelles avenge first-game loss to Maldives

Natacha Bibi scored a second half brace as the Seychelles women’s national football team earned their first win under Singaporean coach Angeline Chua Ki Yi and they did it in style in a 4-0 drubbing of their hosts, the Maldives, to avenge a first-game loss in the Three-Nation Friendly tourney.

The Seychelles team had gone into the tournament in the Maldives looking to improve on their previous showings in the Dubai tourney when they lost twice to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in September last year, but they inexplicably lost their first match against the hosts 1-0 after Mariyam Noora pounced on a defensive mistake by Florence Marie in the 10th minute to beat Seychelles goalkeeper Mandy Gabriel.

Against the same opponents on Friday night inside the National Football Stadium, Seychelles came out with all guns blazing to avenge the defeat to ‘the Daughters of the Waves’ and send a strong warning to the Saudi Arabia team whom they were to play in their third and last match yesterday.

After Bibi had flashed her shot across the face of goal, Reena Esther’s long free-kick from the left sailed over Maldives captain and goalkeeper Leeza who had moved off her goalline in the 12th minute (1-0).

Bibi had the chance to double her team’s lead after rounding goalkeeper Leeza but her effort was cleared on the goalline as Seychelles went for the breather with a one-goal advantage.

Bibi was not to be denied in the second half as she collected a 71st minute through pass inside the Maldives’ penalty area and unleashed a strong left foot shot which beat goalkeeper Leeza to find refuge in the net (2-0).

Seychelles’ defender and captain Pascalina Moustache then went on a mazy run forward and from inside the opponents’ penalty area, beat goalkeeper Leeza with a deft shot (3-0).

Bibi put the icing on the cake in the 88th minute when she controlled the ball with her left foot before firing it into the net with the right foot to make it 4-0 and spark celebrations among the players and coaching staff.

Speaking to Sports NATION, Singaporean coach Angeline Chua Ki Yi said she “feels really proud of the whole Seychelles team”.

“Nobody likes to lose and knowing that you’re the better team. We analysed the first game together and fixed our main issue in team organisation in defence. We are in the journey to team building and a positive result is what we needed to strengthen our beliefs. I feel really proud of the whole team, the substitutes and the team officials behind the team.”

Asked what changes she made to get this result, coach Chua responded:  “Being really organised as a team in defence is the key to Seychelles being able to create more attacking chances. With that in place, we managed to control the game the way we set out to do together.”

Against Saudi Arabia yesterday, coach Chua said her team were to go out there to give their best game and keep working on their style of play.

She also had this to say: “First of all, we celebrate Saudi Arabia for making historical moment in women’s football. It will be their first ever international match. Similarly to Seychelles, we waited for 16 years since 2005 to play our first official international match last year against the United Arab Emirates.”

Gerard Govinden