The Super Falcons of Nigeria have spelled the six letters in the name Zambia. Their match with the She-Polopolo of Zambia on Tuesday ended 6-0 in their second Group A game of the 2014 African Women Championship.
Complete Football reports that Ngozi Okobi started the floodgate of goals for the Nigerian team as she scored from close range after Ngozi Ebere’s freekick.
The Falcons scored within three minutes after the first strike. Desire Oparanozie was fouled and Osinachi Ohale scored with a header from the resultant freekick by “Woman of the Match” Ngozi Ebere.
The Zambians’ first shot on target came in the 10th minute but Nigeria continued their dominance, controlling the game with precision passing and pace that effectively forced the Zambians to defend in numbers.
Desire Oparanozie could not connect with Asisat Oshoala’s right wing cross in the 14th minute. The chance to add another goal was lost but that did not deter Edwin Okon’s girls.
In the 23rd minute, Nigeria produced the loveliest move of the match: Asisat Oshoala fired a low shot after a good flick-on from strike partner Desire Oparanozie. There were some passes leading to Oparanozie’s eventual pass.
The Falcons won a penalty from a handball in the penalty box in the 25th minute. Oparanozie scored from the spot kick. The score read Zambia 0-3 Nigeria.
Forward Asisat Oshoala was twice denied by Zambian keeper Nali soon after the third Nigerian goal, while Ngozi Ebere’s fierce shot was tipped over for a Nigerian corner a minute after Oshoala’s goal-bound shot was blocked.
Zambian defender Grace Zulu received her second yellow card of the game in the 38th minute after a cynical foul on Desire Oparanozie.
Asisat Oshoala scored her much-awaited goal in the 60th minute of the game with a powerful header from a corner.
The goal-fest continued in the 81st minute. Desire Oparanozie latched on to a fine pass and poked the ball home beyond the reach of an advancing Nali for Nigeria’s fifth goal of the game.
Old warhorse Pepertua Nkwocha made it 6-0 in the 84th minute when she dribbled her marker after receiving a pass from midfield, turned superbly and placed the ball to the left of the Zambian net.
The Zambian players desperately looked for a consolation goal against their more illustrious opponents, but there were no quarters given by Edwin Okon’s team who have now qualified for the semi-finals of the Championship despite having one more group game to play.
The six-time African champions will on Friday play against hosts Namibia in their last group game.
Additional reporting: http://completesportsnigeria.com/zambia-0-6-nigeria-super-falcons-humiliate-polopolo-reach-awc-semi-finals/
