Two goals from Onumonu Ifeoma and Christy Ucheibe in either half were enough for the Super Falcons of Nigeria to pick their first win at the ongoing Total Women Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
The defending champions beat their South African counterparts, Bostwana by two goals after suffering defeat in their first match to South Africa 2-1.
Coach Waldrum made three changes to the team as goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie returned to the starting eleven after serving out her suspension against South Africa; Ngozi Okobi and Francesca Ordega also got the nod to start. Randy also made some tactical tweaks playing Toni Payne as a left-back, advancing Rasheedat Ajibade upright and switching Onumonu to the centre-forward position.
The team knew what was at stake, and started on the front foot with promising attacking play from both wings and the midfield, with Okobi dictating the pace and setting the rhythm for the team against a conservative Bostwana side that approached the game with the mindset of securing a draw.
The Super Falcons after a series of questions asked from their opponents opened the scoring in the 21st minute after Onumonu Ifeoma connected well with a through ball from Halimatu Ayinde and made no mistake in putting it at the back of the net.
The Falcons played on and tried adding to the one goal scored, but the debutants were determined not to let in another goal as the first ended one goal to zero in favour of Nigeria.
The second half began and Nigeria picked it from where they left the first half with more attacks on their opponents. Just three minutes into the second half, substitute, Christy Ucheibe rose above every other player in the box to nod home.
Nigeria kept pushing for more goals as the team’s coach threw in the likes of Monday Gift, Uchenna Kanu, Vivian Ikechukwu and Otu Regina, to get more goals and add steel to the – the team kept pushing with beautiful display to the pleasure of the fans who spurred them in the usual hailing chants of national team’s.
With the victory, the defending champions sit second in Group C – on the same points as Bostwana who have an inferior goal record – behind South Africa who has six points from two games team now sits second in the group.
Up next for the Nine times champions is the last Group C match against Burundi, at the Moulay Hassan Stadium, Rabat, Morocco.
Ayoola Adeleke reporting live from Morocco