Goals from Esther Sunday, Stella Mbachu and Perpetua Nkwocha were enough for the defending African Champions to see off the stubborn Abraham Teklehaimaonot-led side.
No one had given the Dinkesh of Ethiopia chance to upset the Super Falcons after being trounced 5-0 in their opening game against Cote d’Ivoire, but they proved to be a hard nut to crack for the rampaging Nigerian attack.
Both teams had a bright start contesting for every ball, but it was the Nigerian ladies who enjoyed the larger percentage of possession as they restricted their opponent to their own half. The Kadiri Ikhana-led girls would have scored as many as five goals in the first half but a well organised Ethiopian defence halted all of Nigeria’s attempts.
Nigeria could have taken the lead as early as the 9th minute, after Esther Sunday couldn’t score from a begging chance after receiving a good cross from Stella Mbachu. Emueje Ogbiagbevha missed another glorious chance in the 10th minute when she couldn’t score from the cross off Perpetua Nkwocha. Emueje was the culprit again after blowing away another glaring opportunity in the 12th, she failed to connect Ohadugha’s well placed pass.
The Ethiopians held their own too as they frustrated the Falcons attacking line up with a tactic of delay. They matched their Nigerian opponents strength for strength as Helen Siefu and Reima Zergaw combined effectively with star player Birtuakan Gebrekirstos to prevent the Nigerian ladies.
Esther Sunday made atonement for her misses when she got the curtain raiser in the 26th minute. She received a cross from Ohadugha who had displaced two defenders before sending the goalkeeper the wrong way. All efforts to increase the lead proved futile as the Ethiopians came out in their numbers. Tutu would have equalled the scores but her lack of precision at goal was her undoing. Nigeria went into the half time with their one goal advantage.
The Super Falcons picked up from where they stopped in the 2nd half but were rather disappointing in front of the opponents’ goal area as they failed to convert begging chances. Birtukan Gebrekristos would have levelled scores for the Ethiopians but her mesmerising run was curtailed by Onome Ebi.
Stella Mbachu scored the second goal for Nigeria in the 64th minute when she got a long pass from midfield controlled it with her chest, before unleashing an unstoppable missile on the Ethiopian goalie. Perpetual Nkwocha made it 3-0 in the 65th minute from Rita Chikwelu long pass which she put past the on rushing Ethiopian goalie.
Nigeria got the final goal at the closing stages of the match which centre referee, Rernado Maxima from Angola had earlier ruled off for an offside. The score board read 4-0 even though it was 3-0.
The Super Falcons who have now booked a ticket for the semi finals will play their last group game of the championship on Sunday, November 4 at the Nuevo Estadio de Malabo against debutants, Cote d’ivoire who lost their second game to the Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon 4-1.
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