Izuchukwu Okosi
Nigeria’s Super Falcons on Friday evening defeated Cote d’Ivoire’s Lady Elephants 2-0 to brighten their hopes of defending their Africa Women’s Cup of Nations title reports Prime Business Africa.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThe nine-time African champions scored a goal in each half at the Moshood Abiola stadium, Abuja through Ifeoma Onumonu in the 21st and 56th minutes.
Onumonu struck in the first half when she received a delightful pass from Esther Okoronkwo then doubled the lead in the 56th minute with a cheeky lob over the on rushing Ivory Coast’s goalkeeper.
Leicester City’s defender Ashleigh Plumptre started for Nigeria to make her senior international debut.
Head coach Randy Waldrum introduced the trio of Uchenna Kanu, Ngozi Okobi-Eseoghene and Gift Monday off the substitute bench in place of Amanda Mbadi, Rita Chikwelu and Esther Okoronkwo as the team searched for more goals but it finished at only 2-0.
Both west African nations will clash in the second leg in Abidjan next week with the overall winner booking a ticket to the tournament in Morocco later in the year.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
