The Super Falcons of Nigeria climbed to the summit of Group B after defeating Tunisia 3-0 in their opening match of the ongoing 2024 Women African Cup of Nations.
It took only five minutes for the six-time African Women Player of the Year, Asisat Oshoala to open scoring for the nine-time champions. Rinsola Babajide, who assisted the first goal, doubled Nigeria’s lead just before the break.
Coach Justin Madugu rightly decided to substitute the two goal scorers as well as Deborah Abiodun with Chinwendu Ihezue, Esther Okonkwo and Christy Ucheibe as the Tunisians seemed not to have the fire-power to scratch the Super Falcons.
Rinsola Babajide celebrating her goal in tribute to Diogo Jota
One of the substitutes, Chinwendu Ihezue put the icing on the cake with six minutes to go.
The group’s second match saw Algeria defeat Botswana by Ghoutia Karchouni’s 10th minute goal thereby handing Nigeria the leadership of the group on superior goals difference.
In Group A, the host Morocco grabbed a draw from the jaws of defeat as Zambia gave them a scare of their lives. Barbra Banda opened scoring for the Copper Queens in the first minute.
The Atlas Lionesses rallied round and equalized through Ibtissam Jaraidi’s 12th minute penalty.
Racheal Kundananji, who plays her club football alongside Nigeria’s Asisat Oshoala in Bay FC in the United States of America restored Zambia’s lead in the 27th minute. The Copper Queens held on and rebuffed all assault from the home side until the 88th minute when Ghizlane Chebbak’s long range effort nestled into the net to save the blushes of the Moroccans.
Copper Queens celebrating a goal.
With both teams securing a point, Senegal saw a golden opportunity to go tops in the group and they grabbed it with both hands demolishing DR Congo 4-0.
The Congolese who refused to train the previous day because of unpaid bonuses were no match to the West Africans. Mama Diop and Nguenar Ndiaye scored a brace each to move to the top of Group A.
