2022 AWCON Qualifiers: Onumonu Hits Brace as Nigeria beat Cote d’Ivore 2-0 in Abuja

By Harry Awurumibe, Africa’s No.1 Women’s Football Journalist

Nigerian-American, Ifeoma Onumonu scored a brace to help struggling Super Falcons to defeat the Lady Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire 2-0 in the first leg of the final qualifying round of  the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (AWCON) at the  Moshood Abiola National Stadium ,Abuja on Friday.

Onumonu who is on the payrolls of New York/New Jersey Gotham FC in United States of America (USA) got her first goal in the 21st minute of the game after she was set up in the opponents’ by another American-born player, Esther Okoronkwo of AS Saint Etienne, France.

Her second goal in the 56th minute was equally a delight as she lobbed the ball over the on-rushing Ivoirien goalkeeper Cynthia Djohoré to give Nigeria a two goals cushion going into the second leg tie

which will take place next Wednesday at the Stade Robert Champroux, Abidjan.

Although Nigeria won the match, the Cote d’Ivoire team was far better on the day as they controlled the game but lacked the cutting edge to inflict damage on the Super Falcons who played uncoordinated football.

The Ivoriens who started like a house on fire kicked, pushed and shoved the Super Falcons both halves of the tensed encounter in order to get a goal in Abuja with diminutive Ange N’Guessan, Fatou Coulibaly and Rebecca Elloh orchestring the incessant attacks on Super Falcons vital area.

In fact, the Lady Elephants poured forward in search of an equaliser Onumonu’s first half goal but Chiamaka Nnadozie produced a number of superb saves to deny the visitors any chance of registering a goal.

Also, the visitors became more aggressive after the second goal as Head Coach ClementineToure made several changes which put the Nigerian team under immense pressure towards the end of the match.

Indeed, Nigerians have veteran defenders Onome Ebi and Osinachi Ohale to thank, although the biggest revelation was Leicester City Women’s FC of England young defender, Ashleigh Plumptre who Abuja fans nicknamed “Oyibo Rock” because of her rock-solid performance on day the Super Falcons played badly yet won the game.