WAFCON 2022: Super Falcons Back To Winning Ways
- Overhaul Botswana 2-0 in Morocco
BY VICTOR OSOWOCHI – Putting behind them the disappointing loss to Bayana Bayana of South Africa in their opening group match last Monday, Nigeria’s Super Falcons responded well with a comfortable 2-0 win over Botswana on Thursday at the Stade Prince Moulay Al Hassan in Morocco.
It was inspiring bouncing back from the 1-2 defeat in their Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) opening Group C game, scoring a goal in each half of the match.
The opening goal came through Ifeoma Onumonu in the 21st minute with the second being a strike from substitute Christy Ucheibe’s powerful header in the 48th minute.
Harvesting all three points on the night, the Super Falcons looked sharper, playing with more directness and coordination than their lackluster outing against South Africa.
For the encounter, Head Coach Randy Waldrum made three changes to the team that took on Bayana Bayana as he handed veterans Francesca Ordega and Ngozi Okobi starting berths, while Chiamaka Nnadozie returned as first-choice goalkeeper after serving her suspension.
Also, in the absence of injured Asisat Oshoala, Ifeoma Onumonu started as the lone striker upfront while Ashleigh Plumptre was not listed in the squad over fitness concerns.
As anticipated by bookmakers, it turned out an easy game for the defending champions as they dominated both halves of the game with every meaningful statistic in their favour.
The Super Falcons have now gotten their campaign back on track for a record-extending 10th title heading into the final game against the Swallows of Burundi who are already eliminated from the competition.
The Burundians suffered their second defeat, losing 3-1 to South Africa already primed to finish top of the group after the final round of matches in the first round.
The Swallows will be playing for pride on June 10, while the Super Falcons must win to guarantee their passage to the tournament’s second round. – With Agency reports
