Stadium Windhoek proved too hot to handle for their
Cameroonian opponents in the final of the African Women
Championship.
Two first half goals by Desire Oparanozie and Asisat
Oshoala was all the Falcons needed to confirm their ratings
as favourites as they won the trophy a record seventh time.
They completed the campaign without losing a match.
The Early exchanges were even. But it was the Falcons that
showed some flashes of brilliance as they were more
comfortable on the ball. Josephine Chukwunonye took a
blow to her face a reminder that the game will be a hard
fought one. Cameroon Deborah Enganamouit made her
presence felt, but her curling free kick from the edge of the
box sailed over the bar. On the 14th minute the Super
Falcons had their own free kick after Francesca Ordega was
wrestled down outside the Cameroonian box. Desire
Oparanozie fired the ball into the net after Ngozi Ebere’s
decoy fooled the Indomitable Lionesses defence.
Cameroon came back seeking to draw level, but the
Nigerian back line of Onome Ebi, Ngozi Ebrere Evelyn
Nwabuoku and Ngozi Ujoku picked up the pieces, while
Ibubeleye Whyte in goal remained vigilant. Enganamouit
was ever threatening when she pounced on a loose ball, but
her shot grazed the far right. Oparanozie had the chance to
make it two after Asisat Oshoala worked her way into the
box, but she shot wide. On the 44th minute Oshoala made it
two after Ordega weaved her way through the Cameroon
defence and laid a pass to Oshoala who was lurking in the
six yard box.
After the break, Cameroon came out strong looking for a
hope riser with Enganamouit tormenting Falcons defence
with her shots from outside the box. Oshoala also caused
the Cameroon anxious moments. Whyte was forced to make
a save from a free kick. The Falcons allowed the
Cameroonians to take control of the game and were forced
to abandon their sleek passing game. They defended tight.
Whyte was excellent in the post; she denied the
Cameroonians any chance of coming back into the game.
Ordega was crowned the woman of the match. “We
prepared hard for this match and we knew that Cameroon
players will come hard, but we were equal to the task,” she
said after the match.
Oparanozie was crowned the goal queen of the tournament.
Both Nigeria and Cameroon along with third-place winners
Cote d’Ivoire will represent Africa in next year’s FIFA
Women’s World Cup in Canada.
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