AWC:Falcons begin on a bright note, beat Ivory Coast 4-2 Goals from Esther Sunday, Mariam Diakate and Desire Oparanozie ensured that the Super Falcons got their African Women Championship campaign in Namibia off to a winning start with a 4-2 win over Ivory Coast at the Sam Nojuma Stadium, WIndhoek. The Falcons started with veteran striker Perpetua Nkwocha on the bench but they had no need to fear as Minsk FC striker Sunday put Nigeria ahead in the 12th minute. The lead lasted all of nine minutes as Fatou Coulibaly put the Ivoiriens level in the 21st minute from the penalty spot. Both side put up wonderful defensive display for the rest of the first half as no side could find a headway. The breakthrough however came for the Falcons in the 54th minute as defender Diakate put a ball in her own goal to put the Nigerians 2-1 up. Oparanozie doubled the advantage in the 74th minute but Ivory Coast show they could get back into the game when they scored a minute later through Christine Lohoules Yebles. But the last had not been heard of Oparanozie as she scored in the 87th minute to see the Falcons maintain their two goal lead over their West African counterparts. Midfielder Ngozi Okobi was named Woman of the match in the encounter. Nigeria now top the standings in Group A on goal difference. Namibia are second after beating Zambia 2-0 in an earlier match. Ivory Coast and Zambia are third and fourth respectively.
Posted on: Sat, 11 Oct 2014 20:35:57 +0000