… WAFCON semi final spot
By Harry Awurumibe, Editor Abuja Bureau
A second half goal scored by Atletico Madrid attacking midfielder Rasheedat Ajibade in the 57th minute gifted Nigeria a 1-0 victory over arch-rivals Cameroon and a ticket for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup final in Australia and New Zealand.
The victory achieved in the quarter final match billed on Thursday at Mohammed V Stadium in Casablanca, also guaranteed the Super Falcons a semi final place in the 12th CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) and a chance to still win the competition for the 10th time, excluding the 1991 and 1995 when there was no continental football championship.
The match lived up to the pre-tournament predictions that a match between both countries have always created much tension, although the Nigeria’s Super Falcons have always found a way to beat the Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon.
The Indomitable Lionesses especially star players Ajara Nchout Njoya, who scored her team’s second goal in their 2-0 win over Tunisia in the last group match and Ngo Mbaleck could not express themselves in the match.
The versatile player who currently plays club football in Inter Milan, Italy was even yellow-carded for rough play on Nigeria’s Toni Payne early in the game.
