Super Falcons of Nigeria head coach, Thomas Dennerby has expressed his delight at the 4-0 win by his team over the Shepolopolo of Zambia at the ongoing Total Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (AWCON) in Ghana.
“I am very happy that we managed this game well and to score four goals is very good,” coach Dennerby said. He however added that “if there is something in the game I am not 100% happy with, it’s that we should have scored more goals.”
The Super Falcons started the game brightly creating a couple of goalscoring chances. First, it was Asisat Oshoala with a good strike and another header from the captain on the day, Onome Ebi but both chances were well saved by Natasha Nali in the Zambian goal.
The defending champions controlled the game well and in the 42nd minute, a good pass from Alimatu Ayinde set Francisca Ordega on her way before the Washington Spirit forward played a well weighted pass for the waiting Desire Oparanozie who stabbed home to give the Falcons a deserved lead just before half time.
An early change in the second half saw Chiwendu Chukwunonye replace Faith Micheal as the Falcons became even more dangerous creating chances upon chances but Asisat Oshoala failed to make them count. However, the assurance goal soon came in the 69th minute courtesy of a beautiful curler from Francisca Ordega who picked up the total woman of the match award.
Coach Dennerby then introduced FC Robo Queens forward, Rasheedat Ajibade in place of Desire Oparanozie and it was only a matter of time before the substitute announced herself in her debut AWCON tournament with a well taken goal.
Nigerian then made another change as Alimatu Ayinde made way for Nasarawa Amazons’ Amarachi Okoronkwo who rifled in the fourth goal in added time after the Zambian goalkeeper cleared the ball from a corner kick situation.
Despite the morale boosting win, coach Dennerby has said “don’t think this game we won today is the final game in the group because now we have to work as hard as today or even harder in the next game because we have to secure a place in the semi-final.”
Adding that “we stay cool but of course, I’m happier today than three days ago.”
The Super Falcons of Nigeria will play their final group game against Equatorial Guinea on Saturday as the defending champions fight for a place in the semi-final of the 2018 AWCON tournament.
