Nigeria’s Super Falcons leaped to the top of Group A of the women’s football event of the 11th All-Africa Games after a 5-1 thrashing of host, Congo-Brazzaville female national team on Sunday.
Top scorer at the last African Women Championship, Desire Oparanozie scored four goals, with Chinaza Uchendu netting Falcons’ fifth and final goal.
Victory over the host nation handed the Falcons, reigning African champions, three points, with their next match to come against Tanzania’s senior women team on Wednesday.
The Falcons seized the initiative right from the start at the Stade Massamba Debat in Brazil, and were three goals up within the first 35 minutes, all by Oparanozie, who failed to score at the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Canada and in the 2016 Olympics qualifying fixture against Equatorial Guinea.
Egypt’s withdrawal from the men’s and women’s football events means the Nigeria men’s team will have to wait until Wednesday to play Ghana at the Stade de l’unite 3 also in Brazzaville.
The Falcons’ final match of the group phase is against Cote d’Ivoire on Saturday at the Stade de l’unite 3.
By Olisemeka Obeche
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