Everton Ladies of England attacker, Antionette Oyedupe ‘Toni’ Payne is enduring an unwanted record, after she suffered a 1-0 home defeat with her side against Brighton Hove Albion, who featured her Nigerian colleague, Chiamaka Nnadozie.
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Sports247 reports that both Super Falcons’ players were in top form and hogged highlights of the game at Everton’s iconic ground, but it was Nnadozie who had the last laugh, while Payne was left sulking at home.
Payne almost scored from an error by Nnadozie, as The Seagulls’ keeper had to hurriedly recover and stand her ground to keep out the forward’s stunning effort, which followed a faulty pass straight to the opponent.
Everton’s best chance to equalize came in the 81st minute when Melissa Lawley’s effort deflected towards fellow-substitute, Maz Pacheco, but Nnadozie raced off her line to block at close range.
While Payne appeared enterprising, especially when she sent three dangerous crosses into Brighton’s box, the absence of French striker, Kelly Gago was felt and her side could not get their elusive first victory.
Victory moved Nnadozie’s side up to sixth in the table with their first Women’s Super League (WSL) win since December 7, while a ninth loss from 13 games kept Payne’s side in 10th spot.
It also meant another setback for Payne’s squad, who initially made Goodison Park the largest dedicated women’s stadium in England when they moved into the 113-year-old former Everton men’s ground last summer.
The unwanted record books now show that Everton have become the fifth team to lose their first six home games of a WSL season, and it came on the day their coach, Brian Sorensen took charge of his 100th match with the club.
Sports247 recalls that ‘Toni,’ who was born and raised in Alabama, USA, is the older sister of fellow footballers, Stephen and Nicole Payne, who she appeared to further motivate when she moved to Everton Ladies on July 19, 2024.
She made history on December 7, 2025, when she assisted a goal for Honoka Hayashi to beat Chelsea 1-0 and end the longest unbeaten streak of 34 matches in Super League history.
Sadly, her present status is a setback of defeats suffered in six straight home matches of the WSL this season.
