BEVERLY HILLS, February 23, (THEWILL) – Nigeria’s senior women’s national team, the Super Falcons made light work of fellow African women’s side, the Nzalang Femenino of Equatorial Guinea, in the ongoing Gold City Tournament in Antalya, Turkey. After the total domination of a first half that saw them put seven goals past the Guineans, the Super Falcons exhibited the gulf in quality between both sides, finishing the whitewash by an astounding 9-nil.
Super Falcons Captain, Asisat Oshoala, scored a haul, four goals, on the Guineans’ day of humiliation.
As reported by THEWILL, the Guineans, who were trounced 6-0 by the Nigerian ladies at the last edition of the Women AFCON in Ghana on the way to lifting their ninth title, found themselves to be the whipping team of the group, losing 5-0 to Uzbekistan and 2-0 to CSKA Moscow.
That should have been a pointer to the flogging that was to come against the Super Falcons whose teamwork had improved, had found their cohesion to be at a higher level and were very tight in defense. Against the two teams that beat the Guineans, the African champions had won by a lone goal each.
If that was not a clear enough signal for the Nzalang Femenino, Ugonna Kanu sounded out an unambiguous note of warning in the early stages of the encounter by opening the scoring for Nigeria, after just eight minutes into the final group tie.
When it was obvious that the Guineans did not get the memo, the Super Falcons super-captain Asisat Oshoala netted a pair of penalty kicks against an overly physical Nzalang backline in quick succession to make it 3-0 inside of the first quarter of an hour. The lively Toni Payne, who was a persistent pest of the Guinean defense, was fouled inside the box for the first penalty.
A complete hattrick for the Barcelona forward and super-captain was complete after 26 minutes. The 26-year-old tactfully sprung the offside trap of the Guineans before confidently rounding up the goalkeeper and slotting into a welcoming net.
Payne’s impressive form continued when she turned provider for Uchenna Kanu to make it five in the 36th minute. It was the turn of Charity Adule, only two minutes after, when her header took the first half tally to six.
Nigeria went into the break seven goals up as Payne entered her name in the scoresheet deservingly, prodding home her first goal for Nigeria two minutes before the interval.
Yet, there was more, as coach Randy Waldrum gave a run out for several uncapped players.
Debutant and captain of FC Robo Queens, a Mushin-based Women’s Association club, Monday Gift, made it 8-0 on 69 minutes.
To crown a personal and collective haul, there was no better than Oshoala on hand to grab her fourth goal of the day in the 85th minute and a ninth overall for the Falcons.
It was a terrible day at the office for the Guineans whose decision to swap goalkeepers after seven goals in the 63rd minute did not change anything. To worsen their misery, an Equatorial Guinean player was sent off with three minutes of regulation time left for dangerous play against debutant Ramat Abdulkareem.
It is three out of three for the Super Falcons as they demonstrated their clinical form in the final third whilst remaining water-tight at the heart of defense and giving Waldrum’s start to his coaching career with the ladies more than he could have prayed for. They have scored 11, conceded nothing and will progress with all the confidence in the world.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
