By

Eniola Olatunji 

The Nigerian Super Falcons on Thursday at the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja crushed their Cape Verdean counterpart 5-0 which is actually the highest goal massacre ever on the visitors in women football history on the way to the Women African Cup of Nations WAFCON 24.

Two players, Uchenna Kanu and Esther Okoronkwo scored braces (two goals each) in the match that made Nigerian feel more superior than men because of the faulty these days propping the women for elaborate ‘Owanmbe’ party for the weekend.

Cover photo: Super Falcons celebrating with Esther Okoronkwo.

Uchenna got her brace in the first half at the 7th and 45th minutes of play and ‘Zion Train’ Esther Okoronkwo moved on by Rasheedat Ajibade known as Mummy G. O. because of her evangelism on the social media got her brace in the 66th and 76th minutes.

Monday Gift got the 2nd goal for Nigeria in the 25th minute and the final scoreboard reading has made the 2nd leg scheduled for the 15,000 capacity Estadio Nacional de Cabo Verde, Praia where Cape Verde beat Liberia 3-0 a mere formality. 

The Ghanaian officials with Centre Ref, Rita Ama Boatend; 1st Lineswoman, Doris Essuman Darko; 2nd Lineswoman, Alice Ferizua Chakule and the 4th Official, Barikisu Chisu Salifu were so much at home as the fans were in celebration frenzy from the end of the first half when Nigeria was up by 3-0.

Eleven of the Cape Verdean players are foreign based plying their craft in Portugal and Spain. Nigerian players ensured their most capped and top scorer, 27 year old Irlando Lopes who plays for the Portuguese Club Amora did not get to scratch goalkeeper Nnadozie Chiamaka of Nigeria.

Mali last year beat Cape Verde 4-0 but they in January whipped Mauritania 6-0 until Nigeria dazed Cape Verde 5-0.
  
Nigeria is ranked 32nd in the world and the best in Africa while Cape Verde is ranked 133rd in the world and 19th in Africa.

Super Falcons strolled into this last qualifying round when Sao Tome and Principe Babes withdrew in September same month the Cape Verde girls displaced the Liberian girls 5-3 on aggregate. On 22nd September Cape Verde won 3-0 and Liberia won at home 3-2.

The two countries met thrice, the highest win of Nigeria over Cape Verde senior girls was 7th September 2021 in the Group C world cup qualifier that Cape Verde lost to Nigeria on home ground 1-2. Both met on the 9th of January 2013 and it ended goalless while the match played on 5th October 2019 in a WAFU encounter ended 1-1.

Nigeria had six of her star players missing on the line up against Cape Verde namely mega African player of the Year hopefull, Assizat Oshoala; British tormentor in Chief at the world cup. Academic guru, Michelle Alozie; Never say tire, Halimat Ayinde; the one called Oyinbo, Ashleigh Plumptre; flick shot specialist, Ifeoma Onumonu and Jennifer Echegini.

Nigeria is waiting to meet the Cameroonian Lioness in a two legged match for the Olympic Games Qualifier on 19th February and 28th February 2024.
Eniola Olatunji reporting f