Reigning African female footballer of the year, Asisat Oshoala opened her account at the ongoing Africa Women’s Cup of Nations (AWCON) with the first hat trick of the tournament in a comprehensive 6-0 win over Equatorial Guinea in Cape Coast.
Ahead of matchday three, the Super Falcons needed a convincing victory to be guaranteed a spot in the next round of the tournament. Hence, the girls came out firing from the blast of the whistle and it was only a matter of time before the defending champions opened the scoring.
In the 10th minute, Wednesday’s woman of the match in the 4-0 win over Zambia, Francisca Ordega latched onto a pass from Rita Chikwelu to give the Falcons tla deserved lead.
Two minutes later, Oshoala added another courtesy of a brilliant pass from Desire Oparanozie to make it two for the Super Falcons. Oshoala then scored her second of the day and Nigeria’s third with a cool finish following a pass from Alimatu Ayinde.
In less than 25 mins, the China based forward completed her hat trick to put the eight time champions 4 goals up at half time.
The Super Falcons came out with even more firepower in the second half, adding two more goals from Desire Oparanozie and Rita Chikwelu to make it 6-0 at the end of 90 mins.
The win leaves the Super Falcons in second as Banyana Banyana of South Africa played out a 1-1 draw with the Shepolopolo of Zambia to top the group with a point more than the Super Falcons.
Following Saturday’s Group B results, we will have a repeat of the 2016 final in Yaounde which Nigeria won as Nigeria and Cameroon face off in the first semi final of the 11th edition of the Africa Women’s Cup of Nations (AWCON) in Accra on Tuesday. While, South Africa face Mali in Cape Coast later in the day.
Zambia and Equatorial Guinea exit the tournament with 4 points and 0 point respectively, joining already eliminated Ghana and Algeria.
