Nigeria’s Super Falcons got their first 2018 Africa Women’s Cup of Nations (AWCON) victory by walloping Zambian Shepolopolo 4-0 on Wednesday evening.
Zambia started the tournament with a 5-0 win over Equatorial Guinea while Nigeria lost 1-0 to South Africa.
It took the alertness of the keeper to deny Asisat Oshoala from close range in the ninth minute of action.
The tempo of the game gradually slowed down with the two teams failing to string passes together.
Experienced defender Onome Ebi did well to direct her header on target but the keeper denied her with a timely save.
Falcons deservedly raced into the lead late in the first stanza. En Avant Guingamp striker Desire Oparanozie got on the end of a quality cross from Francisca Ordega to tuck to the back of the net.
Oparanozie had the chance to make it 2-0 at the beginning of the second half but she dragged her effort and it was blocked by the defender.
Former Arsenal and Liverpool forward Oshoala was guilty of missing an easy chance with the keeper at her mercy after the hour mark.
The Falcons increased their advantage in the 69th minute. A well laid cross from the right hand side by Oshoala was poked to the bar by Oparanozie who did well to lay the rebound to Ordega.
The Washington Spirit star showed predatory instinct with an unstoppable strike to the net.
There was still more to come from the eight-time African champions.
Substitute Rasheedat Ajibade pulled the the trigger and netted a very excellent strike following a great pass from Oshoala. It was a brilliant goal.
Nasarawa Amazons central midfielder Amarachi Okoronkwo put the icing on cake with a bullet from 21 yards which the keeper had no answer to.
How The Super Falcons Lined Up Against Zambia
Tochukwu Oluehi, Osinachi Ohale, Faith Michael (Josephine Chukwunonye 46′), Onome Ebi (C), Ebere Ngozi, Halimatu Ayinde (Amarachi Okoronkwo 80′), Rita Chikwelu, Ngozi Sonia Okobi, Asisat Oshoala, Desire Oparanozie (Rasheedat Ajibade 70′), Francisca Ordega
