The Super Falcons of Nigeria began their quest for a record-extending tenth WAFCON title with a commanding 3-0 victory over Tunisia on Sunday evening at the Stade Larbi Zaouli in Casablanca, Morocco.
Asisat Oshoala, Rinsola Babajide and Chinwendu Ihezuo scored in their Group B opener and extended Nigeria’s dominance over North African opposition at the continental showpiece.
The Super Falcons came into the game on the back of a patchy record in recent WAFCON openers, having lost their first matches in both the 2018 and 2022 editions to South Africa.
Super Falcons scored just four minutes into the encounter after Rinsola Babajide was brought down on the left, she got up to deliver the resulting free-kick which found Oshoala in the box. The former Nigerian captain directed a well-timed header in the midst of Tunisians into the centre of the goal for her 14th career goal at the WAFCON.
Nigeria’s second goal came at the end of a lengthy first-half stoppage period. After a VAR check for offside, Babajide’s well-taken left-footed effort in the 46th minute was confirmed, making it 2-0.
The third goal arrived in the 84th minute. Okoronkwo received Plumptre’s cross in the box after already playing her on from the middle and her flicked header perfectly met Ihezuo’s position in front of goal, whose left-footed shot settled low in the far corner to seal the result.
The Super Falcons will play their next match against Botswana, while Tunisia will be looking to bounce back against Algeria.
