Falcons Captain Evelyn Lauds Perfect Start to AWC

Nigeria skipper Evelyn Nwabuoku praised her team-mates’ performance after their 2-0 win over Namibia on Friday in the last Group A match of the ongoing Caf African Women Championship (AWC).

A second-string Super Falcons side beat hosts Namibia to progress into the semi-finals of the championship. The six-time winners will face Group B runners-up in the semi-final on Wednesday at the Sam Nujoma Stadium in Windhoek.

Coach Edwin Okon rested his side’s leading scorer Desire Oparanozie, Asisat Oshoala, Enome Ebi and goalkeeper Precious Dede for Namibia, but first-half goal by Francisca Ordega and Gloria Ofoegbu all but sealed Nigeria’s passage to the last 4.

Speaking after the match, Nwabuoku admitted Namibia put up “a good fight” but expressed delight at grabbing maximum nine points after three rounds of group stage matches.

Super Falcons Won All Three of Their Group Matches at the Ongoing AWC in Naimbia.
Super Falcons Won All Three of Their Group Matches at the Ongoing AWC in Naimbia.

“We always knew it would not be easy playing against the host nation because we would be up against the 12th man (the spectators) so I’m happy we won,” she said.

“Namibia gave us a good fight they gave us a run for our money today but we are happy to have contained them and got the maximum points.”

The falcons have now scored 12 goals and conceded two so far in the tournament and are just a win away from becoming one of the three teams to represent the continent at next year’s Fifa Women’s World Cup in Canada.