THE Super Falcons, wearing black armbands in honour of the legendary Peter Rufai who died on Thursday at 61, were imperious this evening as they comfortably defeated Tunisia 3-0 in their opening 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) Group B encounter in Casablanca, Morocco.
The nine-time African champions dominated the North Africans at the sparsely populated Larbi Zaouli Stadium, with Asisat Oshoala, Rinsola Babajide and Chinwendu Ihezuo on the scoresheet.
Six-time African Women’s Player of the Year Oshoala got the Super Falcons on their way early, touching home a fine delivery by Babajide in the fourth minute.
After a stretch of patchy football with both sides failing to find fluidity, the Super Falcons doubled their lead.
Babajide turned from provider to scorer two minutes into first-half added time with a fine goal.
The forward who just left Tenerife of Spain struck low and hard into the net at the near post after beating one defender and powering through the Tunisia defence.
Ashleigh Plumptre thought she had made it 3-0 just before half-time but her header did not count as she was adjudged to have fouled the Tunisia goalkeeper.
Super Falcons head coach Justine Madugu made three changes at half-time, with Christy Ucheibe replacing the yellow carded Deborah Abiodun, while
Esther Okoronkwo came on for Babajide and Chinwendu Ihezuo replaced Oshoala.
Two of the substitutes would combine for the third goal, Okoronkwo heading the ball on to Ihezuo to lash home from close range six minutes from time.
Few minutes before that third goal, centre-back Osinachi Ohale missed a sitter, scooping the ball over the bar after a clever chip by Plumptre, but the Super Falcons would not be too bothered after such a big win.
The Super Falcons face Botswana next on Thursday, when another win would take them to the quarter-finals.