We won’t underrate Zambia, Falcons promise

AFTER drubbing the Les Elephantes of Cote d’Ivoire 4-2 in their first group match on Saturday, the Super Falcons of Nigeria have vowed to take their next game against the Chipolopolo of Zambia with all the seriousness it deserves.

The Coach Edwin Okon-led Falcons won their first game on the opening day of the 2014 African Women Championship (AWC) at the Sam Nujoma Stadium in Windhoek, Namibia, Saturday evening, against a resilient Ivoirians side 4-2 with Desire Oparanozie scoring a brace.

The victory came shortly after their male counterparts, Super Eagles, were beaten by Sudan in their 2015 AFCON qualifier.
Speaking shortly after the game, Coach Okon said the next game against Zambia Tuesday would be taken with all seriousness.

He said the Falcons had some respect for the Ivoirians in their first game because the Les Elephantes had some quality players.

“We really had respect for them, but the problem the Ivoirians had was they relied so much on few individual players. But sincerely speaking, they did well and I commend my girls for their effort. We will do better in the next game, “Okon said.

The Falcons began the match with the duo of Asisat Oshoala and Desire Oparanozie bombarding the fellow West Africans from all directions.

After dominating the opening exchanges, the Falcons came close to opening the scoring in the ninth minute, but striker Desire Oparanozie fired inches wide of the upright from a tight angle.

In the 12th minute, FK Minsk of Belarus striker, Esther Sunday, broke the deadlock when she latched onto a midfield pass from Ngozi Okobi and clinically slotted the ball past the Ivorian goalkeeper.

However, Cote d’Ivoire leveled scores in the 20th minute through a penalty.

Esther Sunday should have restored the Falcons’ lead in the 50th minute, but the striker blasted over from close range. In the 55th minutes of the proceedings, Les Elephantes gifted Falcons with the desired lead with an own goal from Miriam Diakite

The Falcons added a third in the 74th minute when Oparanozie buried the ball home form six-yard thanks to another great assist by Okobi.

But Cote d’Ivoire again pulled one back a minute later through to a composed finish from Christine Lohoues.

Oparanozie eventually sealed the win in the 87th minute with a clinical finish from close range, after being picked out by Asisat Oshoala.

Nigeria is leading Group A with three points, followed by hosts, Namibia, who dealt a 2-0 defeat to debutantes, Zambia.