Super Falcons beat Ghana 2-0 in women’s AFCON qualifier

Sodiq Oyeleke
20 October 2021


The Super Falcons took a two-goal lead over Ghana’s Black Queens in their Women Africa Cup of Nations qualifying fixture thanks to a brace by Sweden –based forward Uchenna Kanu at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena on Wednesday.

The visitors had come close in the 11th minute when Grace Animah saw her fierce shot inside the box blocked by Onome Ebi for a corner. But it was much against the run of play and nine minutes later, Nigeria made pressure count when Kanu rose to meet a perfectly-weighted pull-out by Francisca Ordega and nodded past impressive goalkeeper Dumehasi Fafali.

Both teams, knowing the loser on aggregate will be without any major qualifying contest or tournament for the next two-and-half years, threw everything into the clash played behind closed doors on Lagos Island, but it was Nigeria that made the breakthrough again in the 26th minute, when Kanu rose highest in the box to meet Toni Payne’s corner kick and nodded firmly past Fafali and a clutch of watching defenders.

Former junior international Kanu could have added an assist to her impressive tally for the day when she darted past two defenders and squared for Asisat Oshoala, but Fafali foiled any intentions of the Nigeria captain.

Three minutes before recess, Grace Asantewaa unleashed from just outside the box but her shot rose far above goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie’s post.

In the second half, the Black Queens did something in the mould of throwing the kitchen sink at the Super Falcons, harrying, pushing, kicking and running all over to try and reduce the tally and make the second leg in Accra something to look forward to. But veteran defender Onome Ebi, youngster Opeyemi Sunday, Glory Ogbonna and Osinachi Ohale thwarted their efforts.

Grace Asantewaa was again foiled in the 50th minute by Nnadozie, who tipped her rising shot over the sticks. Two minutes later, Oshoala darted past her marker and headed for glory, but was again stopped by Fafali.

Ghana’s captain Portia Boakye was the usual energetic warrior with an uncompromising stance and worked well with Gladys Amfobea, Janet Egyir, and Ellen Coleman to minimize the damage from the Super Falcons.

At the fore, Princella Adubea, Vivian Konadu and Nina Norshie sought vainly to unlock the Nigerian rear.

In the 82nd minute, Fafali was on hand to neutralize a plan cooked by substitute Vivian Ikechukwu, leaving the scoreline still at 2-0. And with a minute to the end, the tireless Princella Adubea waltzed her way into the Nigeria box and found herself face to face with Nnadozie, only to see her close-range bullet parried and then cleared out to safety by Ebi.

Both teams clash again on Sunday at the Accra Sports Stadium, as from 4pm Ghana time (5pm Nigeria time), with the winner on aggregate qualifying for the 12th Women Africa Cup of Nations holding in Morocco next year summer.

https://punchng.com/super-falcons-beat-ghana-2-0-in-womens-afcon-qualifier/



Highlights.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygAZOmXH0E0

Women's Africa Cup of Nations: Nigeria beat Ghana 2-0 in qualifying

Last updated on 20 October 2021

Nigeria clinched a 2-0 home win over Ghana in the first leg of their first round qualifying tie for next year's Women's Africa Cup of Nations.

Uchenna Kanu struck both goals for the hosts before the break in Lagos, the first with a header before adding her second from a corner.

Nigeria's Super Falcons are three-time defending Nations Cup champions, and have won the continental title a record nine times.

The second leg of the tie will be held in Accra on Sunday.

Elsewhere South Africa, beaten on penalties in the final in 2018, won 7-0 away against Mozambique, with captain Janine van Wyk among the scorers in Maputo.

Kenya cruised to an 8-0 win over South Sudan, who are competing in the qualifiers for the first time, while there were also victories for Cameroon, Namibia, Tunisia, Uganda and Zimbabwe on Wednesday.

The aggregate winners of the 22 first-round ties will reach the second round of qualifying, which will decide the 11 nations joining hosts Morocco at next year's finals.

The 2022 tournament - the first since 2018 after the 2020 edition was cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic - will be held from 2-23 July.

The semi-finalists at the Nations Cup will qualify for the 2023 Women's World Cup, which will be held in Australia and New Zealand, while two other countries will progress to an inter-continental play-off tournament.

The final first round first-leg tie takes place on Friday, when Sao Tome host Togo, with the second legs taking place from 23-26 October.

Djibouti have been given a bye to the second round after their opponents Rwanda withdrew.


Wednesday's first round first-leg results and fixtures

* Uganda 2-0 Ethiopia

* Tanzania 1-2 Namibia

* Zimbabwe 3-1 Eswatini

* Mozambique 0-7 South Africa

* Malawi 1-1 Zambia

* Egypt 2-6 Tunisia

* Kenya 8-0 South Sudan

* Nigeria 2-0 Ghana

* Central African Republic 0-1 Cameroon

* Eritrea 0-5 Burundi

* Congo 2-1 Gabon

* Liberia 1-2 Senegal

* Guinea-Bissau 1-0 Mauritania

* Niger 0-9 Ivory Coast

* Angola 1-5 Botswana

* Sierra Leone 0-2 The Gambia

* Burkina Faso 2-1 Benin

* Mali 2-2 Guinea

* Algeria 14-0 Sudan

* Equatorial Guinea v DR Congo


Friday's first round first-leg fixture

* Sao Tome v Togo

https://www.bbc.com/sport/africa/58981051

Uchenna Kanu

Video of the goals.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8A-dA3FIIk

Hmm Up Naija up BTC FTC

Righteousness over to you

Shout-out to ma nigga @Slawormiir

Go Gurls.
Much Love from all of us @[/b]

Thanks for making us proud.

Our Darling Ghanaian Girls,
We still love you o.
Don't take it so serious please.
You are our sister nation.
Our paddy paddy for life.
Our best next country after our darling Nigeria.


[b]God bless Ghana.
God bless Nigeria.
God bless Africa.

We Moveeeeeeee

Algeria has turns football to basketball
14:0
Wetin happen

Naija nkem
Igbo amaka

Africa giant.

Great! The women tends to always give joy more than the men @ any given time.

Thank you Jesus

I need a Car for uber services. 08068624561

Congratulations ndị nkem.

No ooooooooo

abeg algeria go load some people 14.. women football na joke abeg.

These our girls are all beginning to look like men o.

i am sorry to say that.

Why OP dey give us late update of match played yesterday?

I would rather watch the super falcons jare.

Be giving me joy since AWCON 2002 in Warri.

lolzzz

Someone should please help me with N500 to eat.
6311058076
Fidelity Bank

Kingtomato641:
lolzzz

Our female team is go to go..unlike our comedians super eagles

No gworo-chewing Harbowkeys there to do Naija proud o.

They are already pregnant with their 3rd child in Ahaji Danjuma Mai Rago's harem.

Chai - See confam beating. The women always take it all .

Women have refused to allow the NiggaArea calamity befall them!


So Ivory Coast even beat buha sisters from Niger, confam 9 zero?
Chai.!

But wait... What's the difference between KABUL AND KABOOM?

Only 2? They should do better.

Go girls, you are making us proud

DUNDEEMASTER:
Our female team is go to go..unlike our comedians super eagles

yes ooooo

naptu2:


https://www.bbc.com/sport/africa/58981051

Uchenna Kanu

Good one. There are vacancies for a Front Desk Officer (Female) & Barmen at a High brow Guest House around Yaba, Lagos State. Interested candidates should send their CV to joefelin@yahoo.com or WhatsApp No. 09023357333 for review immediately. Thank you.