11th November, 2010
The Super Falcons of Nigeria this morning landed in the final of the Africa Women Championship, AWC drubbing the Lionesses of Cameroon 5-1 in the first semi final at the Sinaba Stadium, South Africa.
It was double celebration for the Falconets, who booked their place in the Germany 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup finals.
The Nigerian women started the encounter on a high with deft touches, long range passes and superb moves spearheaded by the free scoring Perpetua Nkwocha.
Their Cameroonian opponents played in their typical aggressive way, which resulted in an early expulsion of one of their players, Djbouh Bou Cathy, who plays professional football for Pelican Stars of Calabar in Nigeria.
The match was still goalless when Bou Cathy was given the marching order in the 30th minute by the Centre Referee, Therese Sagno from Senegal, who coincidentally handled the opening group match between Nigeria and Mali last week.
Cameroon Coach, Enow Ngachu approached the tie with much attention on Perpetua Nkwocha, who scored a hat trick in the 5-1 thriller to increase her goal haul to ten.
Helen Ukwuoma opened scoring for Nigeria in the 33rd minute. A corner kick was awarded to Nigeria shortly after the exit of Bou Cathy. Ukwuoma clinically curved the corner kick from the left flank and to the surprise of everyone, including the Cameroonian goalkeeper, Marlyse Ngo, the ball rolled into the net unaided.
While the coach Uche Eucharia-led Falcons intensified their search for more goals, the ladies missed a litany of chances with Ebere Orji’s header from close range hitting the upright. Other efforts were also wasted before the Lionesses were subdued.
As play continued, Stella Mbachu, who was a thorn in the flesh of the Cameroonians was left unmarked towards the end of the first half. With a solo run, she beat two defenders with the ball and sent a pull-out, which accurately found the head of Desire Oparanozie, who nodded home Nigeria’s second goal before the break. The referee booked Cameroon’s Bibi Medoua for foul play.
At the commencement of the second half, the Cameroonians came back stronger and fought for more ball possession and their Nigerian opponents, who failed to find their rhythm conceded an early goal barely two minutes into the stanza.
Yango Ngock capitalised on an error caused by Nigeria’s goalkeeper and captain, Precious Dede ,to slot in their consolatory goal in the 47th minute.
The consolatory goal unsettled the bench of the Nigerians, as players and coaches stood up to agitate over the sudden change of proceedings.
However, hat trick heroine, Nkwocha, who went home with the match ball, won the encounter for Nigeria. Her first goal was scored through goalkeeper Marlyse Ngo’s error.
The ball rolled into touch, resulting in a goal kick and as Ngo tried to play it out, it found Nkwocha, who was unmarked; she raced with the ball towards the goalkeeper and slotted it into an empty net to increase the score line to 3-1 in the 57th minute.
The third goal made the Cameroonians to be more physical and aggressive on the Nigerians as they kicked the Falcons from all directions.
Nkwocha was hacked down in the 18-yard box and the referee pointed straight to the penalty spot. Nkwocha stepped forward to score her second and Nigeria’s fourth.
As hostilities continued, the Cameroonians left their rear in search of goals, but were caught unawares by Mbachu, who was named the Most Valuable Player, MVP of the encounter. Her pass found Nkwocha, who was in her own world and wasted no time scoring the fifth in the 81st minute.
Coach Enow Ngachu of Cameroon, however, conceded victory to the Nigerian ladies. The coach said he was disappointed by the outcome of the match but wished Nigeria well at the final.
Coach Eucharia on her part praised the Falcons for winning the encounter, adding that their aim now is to grab the trophy come Sunday, when the final holds.
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