Nigeria’s Super Falcons Wins African Women Cup of Nations

Super Falcons of Nigeria this evening Saturday 1 December, beat Bayana Bayana of South Africa 4-3 on penalties to win this year’s 2018 African Women’s Cup of Nations (AWCON) tournament played at the Ghanaian national stadium, Accra.

The game at full time ended in a goalless draw. Falcon’s Asisat Oshoala had earlier in the second half missed a penalty awarded to the Super Falcons after attack machine Fransceca Ordega was hacked down in the 75th minute inside the 18 yard box by Bayana Bayana goalkeeper, Christen Swart.

At the end of the thrilling full time the game went into extra time. Yet with no goals scored on either side, the match eventually went to a penalty shoot-out to decide the winner.

As penalties proceeded, Nigeria and South Africa missed one penalty kick each. Ngozi Ebere, Rita Chikwelu and substitute Chinwendu Ihezuo then netted their kicks. But when Nigeria’s Chinaza Uchendu scored Super Falcons last penalty, the match was for the South Africans to loose if they missed their last kick.

And they did.

Bayana Bayana’s final spot kick came from Linda Motlhalo and it was a perfect one that sent the ball to the far right corner of the goal post, but Nigeria’s goalkeeper, Tochukwu Oluchi – who also keeps for Rivers Angels – stretched full length to hunt down the ball there, setting the Accra stadium packed with Nigerian supporters wild with jubilation for Nigeria’s ultimate victory.

It’s the second consecutive match Oluehi saved a spot kick, having also saved a kick in the 4-2 shootout victory over Cameroon in the semi-final.

The victory was a sweet revenge for the Falcons who suffered their only defeat in the tournament 1-0 to South Africa in their opening Group B tie.

This is the first time in the history of the competition that the final match would be decided on penalties.

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This victory is the 9th AWCON cup for Nigeria’s Super Falcons having won every tournament since 1986 to 2018 except for 2008 and 2012.

With this AWCON cup won for the third time in a row, Nigeria will get to keep the cup once again.

Fransceca Ordega was voted Woman of the Match – her second in the tournament – while tournament highest goalscorer Kgatlana was adjudged Woman of the Tournament.

Both teams alongside third-place winners Cameroon qualifies for next year’s Women’s World Cup in France.

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