Linkopings of Sweden forward Uchenna Kanu netted a first half brace to lift Nigeria’s Super Falcons to a 2-0 win over Ghana in a crucial AWCON 2022 qualification game on Wednesday, www.aclsports.com reports.
The two heavyweights in African Women’s football, Nigeria and Ghana met in the first installment of their two-legged qualifier at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan, Lagos on Wednesday afternoon.
After a tentative start to the game, Nigeria took the lead in the 21st minute when Kanu finished off a pass by Francisca Ordega to give Randy Waldrum’s side a positive start.
Kanu then doubled hers and Nigeria’s tally six minutes later when he headed home from a well worked corner kick. Toni Payne received the corner short before swinging a left-footed cross into the box which an unmarked Kanu headed into the bottom corner.
Ordega who was lively in the first half then succumbed to injury on the stroke of half time with her place taken by her former Rivers Angels teammate Vivian Ikechukwu.
The Black Queens of Ghana, coached by Mercy Quarcoo-Tagoe became markedly better in the second half and should have scored at least a goal but were denied on a couple of occasions by Nigeria’s goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie.
At the other end, Nigeria’s best chance of a rather poor second half was missed by captain Asisat Oshoala while the introduction of Rita Chikwelu and Desire Oparanozie could do nothing to improve Nigeria’s play remarkably.
The Super Falcons will now take their two-goal cushion to the Ohene Djan Stadium, Accra on Sunday with the winner over two legs booking a spot at next year’s continental competition in Morocco.
Nigeria lineup:
Nnadozie; Aanu Opeyemi (Akudo Ogbonna), Osinachi Ohale, Onome Ebi, Glory Ogbonna; Reginna Otu (Goodness Onyebuchi), Toni Payne (Rita Chikwelu); Francisca Ordega (Vivian Ikechukwu), Asisat Oshoala, Rasheedat Ajibade; Uchenna Kanu (Desire Oparanozie)
Image: ModZero Media
