WAFU Cup of Nations: Nigeria Beat Ghana 4-2 On Penalties
Nigeria’s National Female Soccer team, the Super Falcons had to dig deep before beating arch-rival Ghana 4-2 on penalties to set a final date with hosts, Cote d’Ivoire in the on-going WAFU Women’s Cup tournament holding in Abidjan, the Ivorian capital.
On Thursday, the Thomas Dennerby’s side defeated the Cup holders on shootouts penalties to reach the 2019 final after ending the regulation time goalless.
The Mercy Tago’s ladies made a fine start to the game as Mukarama Abdulai dashed into the area to shoot but Evelyn Nwabouku made a block to divert it behind for a corner.
With the Ghanaians failing to capitalise on their early chances in the opening 15 minutes, Nigeria came alive and almost found an opener through Rafait Sule in the 33rd minute.
The second half saw both teams missing several scoring chances and neither side could find the back of the net before the end of regulation time.
It therefore took kicks from the penalty spot to separate both teams as the Super Falcons avenged last edition’s semi-final defeat to the Black Queens at the same stage of the competition.
For the Ghanaian ladies, it was a huge disappointment as they failed in their quest to defend the title they won last year.
In the other semi-final encounter, Ange Koko N’Guessan and Mariam Diakite were on target as Cote d’Ivoire secured a 2-1 comeback win over Mali to reach the final.
On Saturday, the dethroned Champions, Ghana are scheduled to face Mali in the third-place match, before hosts Cote d’Ivoire battle Nigeria for the title in the final tie. – Goal.com
