Nigeria 5-0 Cape Verde: Super Falcons inch closer to WAFCON ticket

By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde

Nigeria’s senior women’s national team secured a 5-0 win against Cape Verde in the first leg of the 2024 Women’s African Cup of Nations (WAFCON) Qualifiers final round at MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.

Coach Justin Madugu started Chiamaka Nnadozie in goal alongside Tosin Demehin, Akudo Ogbonna, Rofiat Imuran, Osinachi Ohale, Peace Efih, Rasheedat Ajibade, Toni Payne, Deborah Abiodun, Uchenna Kanu, and Gift Monday.

For Cape Verde, Jacointa Rodrigues was in goal alongside Warsaw of Light, Leonora of Saints, Pick Scallops, Ivania Moreira, Romina of the Rosary, Kleydiana Borges, Leonilde Rodrigues, Strong Melania, Alcione Santos, and Aicja Lopes.

Kanu broke the deadlock for the nine-time African champions in the seventh minute with an easy tap-in.

Monday doubled the lead in the 25th minute from a goal-mouth scramble.

In the additional minutes of the second half, Kanu scored her second goal of the match to put Nigeria three goals ahead from Payne’s brilliant pass.

Substitute, Esther Okoronkwo increased the lead to four in the 66th minute with a sublime finish off Ogbonna’s cross.

Tenerife striker scored her second goal of the game in the 77th minute from Imuran’s cross.

Nigeria holds a five-goal advantage into the return leg on Tuesday, December 5, 2023, with a leg in the 2024 WAFCON taking place in Morocco.