Super Falcons defeats Cameroun in African Women Championship

NFF commends team 

Perpetual Nkwocha won it for Falcons

Lagos Super Falcons on Monday started the defence of its Africa Women Championship (AWC) title on a winning note by beating Cameroon's Indomitable Lionesses 2-1 in Equatorial Guinea. 

The Nigerians would have won with a higher margin but for the wet Nkoantoma stadium pitch in Bata that denied the team the opportunity to score more goals.

Despite the wet pitch Onyinyechi Ohagugha put the team through only for Cameroon to equalise early in the second half through a well taken penalty by Christiana Patience Mani. Perpetua Nkwocha got the winning goal for Nigeria with two minutes left to play.

Falcons players however attributed the low score-line to the wet pitch which withheld the ball from rolling, they however assured that the next match against Cote d’ Ivorire would witness more goals. Match winner, Nkwocha is however optimistic of scoring more goals in subsequent matches.

“I’m an optimist, I know the goals will come, the game against Cameroon was a bit difficult for me, the wet pitch and defenders trying to stop me by all means were the reasons, especially the wet pitch.” Coach Khadiri Ikhana was happy on the performance of the team, saying that the first game was just for the girls to loosen up. The wet pitch he said affected the game but would not use it as an excuse for the low score-line, insisting that first games don’t normally produce much goals.

He assured that the second match on Thursday against Cote d’ Ivoire would produce a high goal margin.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Football Federation on Monday praised the Golden Eaglets and the Super Falcons for excellent performances in the past 24 hours.

Speaking in Abuja on Monday, Chairman of the NFF Media and Publicity Committee, Emeka Inyama said: "The NFF is delighted that our National Teams are now giving their all in important games and we will continue to ensure the teams prepare well for major championships within the limits of our resources.

“Falcons have now paid the Cameroonians back for that penalty shoot-out blot that stopped our girls from the London 2012 Olympics.”

NFF General Secretary, Barrister Musa Amadu assured that the Federation will give every support to the Falcons in their next match against Ethiopia on Thursday and for the Eaglets in their final round of qualifiers against Mali.

“We are already putting arrangements in place for the Eaglets to return to Calabar immediately they come back from Guinea on Tuesday, in order that they can start preparation for their first leg match against Mali, which comes up on 18th November. Governor Liyel Imoke (CON) and the wonderful people of Cross River State have been very supportive and we appreciate them. “As for the Falcons, we are putting heads together to see how we can further motivate them to fire from all cylinders against Ethiopia, as a win in that match will guarantee our semi final place even before the clash with Cote d’Ivoire on Sunday.”