Football
Nigeria swept to her eighth Women Africa Cup of Nations title
after powerful forward Desire Oparanozie struck with four minutes left on the
clock to ensure the Super Falcons retained their continental title in a fully
packed Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo in Yaounde on Saturday.
The Cameroonian Lionesses, who lost 2-0 to the Falcons in the
final of the 2014 edition in Windhoek, Namibia dominated play from the
beginning but were profligate in front of goal. As early as the 4th minute,
Gabrielle Onguene ghosted past the Nigerian defence, only to shoot wide with
just Goalkeeper Alaba Jonathan to beat.
Lively midfielder Ngozi Okobi however stood out in the Falcons’
side despite Nigeria’s slow start to the game. She found space in the middle,
and then turned brilliantly only for her shot to go too high and completely off
target.
Enganamouit, reigning Africa Player of the Year was, as expected,
a threat to the Nigerian defence, as she made frantic efforts to ensure her
team take the lead. But for goalkeeper Jonathan's brilliance, the Cameroonians
would have matched her pre-final macho talk.
Chance after chance fell to the hosts, with Ngono Mani, Ngock
Yango, Gabrielle Oungene and Gaelle Enganamouit all having four clear shots on
target as against none for the Super Falcons in the entire first half. The game
was contrast of what the Falcons had shown all through the championship, as
they were a shadow of themselves in Yaounde.
Nigeria's attack led by Arsenal Ladies' Asisat Oshoala barely had
a charge at goal let alone aim at goalkeeper Ngo Ndom. In the second half, the
Falcons faced a more serious charge from their hosts, but a super defensive
display from the duo of Onome Ebi and Osinachi Ohale ensured the game stayed
scoreless.
In the 57th minute, a rather poor Asisat Oshoala not playing at
her best, lost the ball in the midfield allowing Onguene to launch another
onslaught on the Nigerian defence, but Jonathan again saved Nigeria’s blushes.
Chioma Wogu was thrown into the fray to replace Washington
Spirits' Francisca Ordega in the 65th minute. The change brought pep and some
urgency into the fore of the Falcons, with Oparanozie getting the needed
support she so much craved.
The Falcons finally got the game's only goal, the Cup –winning
strike coming in the 86th minute when Desire Oparanozie met up with a lob from
impressive Ngozi Okobi, and she coolly slotted home. The goal was greeted with
total silence inside the Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo, filled to its over 40,000
capacity.
Ghana, whose Black Queens won the bronze after pipping South
Africa on Friday, will host the 2018 Women Africa Cup of Nations finals.
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