Nigeria’s brave Super Falcons have done it yet again — they are the
champions of Africa for the ninth time!
It wasn’t so much about the players themselves than it was a battle to see who was the better goalkeeper throughout the encounter, and Nigeria’s Tochukwu Oluehi proved herself Africa’s best as the Super Falcons defeated South Africa on penalties to claim the continental crown.
Showdown
The final of the 2018 African Women Cup of Nations was an epic showdown between two teams who had everything to prove to the rest of Africa — for the falcons it was another opportunity to retain their place atop women’s football, while for South Africa, it would be their first ever AWCON title.
The Super Falcons were fast and quick, but the South African team was well structured and their tactic was impenetrable.
Asisat Oshoala began Nigeria’s offense in the third minute with a shot that was stopped by Bayana Bayana goalie Kaylin Swart.
Minutes later, Oluehi was called to action by Mamello Makhabane’s free-kick, which she coolly warded off by the way.
The Falcons were clearly dictating the pace of the game, but the Bayana Bayana were resolute and stopped any goal attempt from Nigeria throughout the remaining minutes of the first half.
Nigeria’s first real chance came when Swart brought down Francisca Ordega in the box and Nigeria was awarded a penalty. However, Oshoala missed the mark and shot wide, blowing off the Falcon’s single best chance at a lead.
The game went straight into extra time, and minutes into the restart, Oluehi stopped Nompumelelo Nyandeni’s brilliant left-footed shot.
Oshoala, on a bid to redeem herself created another good chance for a goal, but Swart stopped her effort.
With no goal at the end of extra time, the game moved into penalty shootout where Oluehi put up her most brilliant performance yet. The goalie stopped Motlhalo’s shot, winning the game for Nigeria 4-3 on penalties.
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Feature Image Source: Pulse.ng
