England-based forward Asisat Oshoala scored four goals as Nigeria swept past Mali 6-0 to get off their African Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title defence on a flying start at Cameroon 2016 on Sunday.
United States-based attacker Francisca Ordega opened the scoring for the seven-time African champions in the 21st minute after finishing off Ugo Njoku’s effort.
Namibia 2014 African Woman Player of the Year and Most Valuable Player of the tournament Oshoala took over from there by capitalising on a defensive mix-up in the Malian defence to send the ball into the net for the Super Falcons’ second goal.
Nigeria grew in confidence in the encounter after the goal as their opponents made a series of defensive blunders.
Uchechi Sunday, who missed a good chance to make it three for Nigeria minutes into the second stanza, put her name on the scoresheet after converting from the spot after Osarenoma Igbinovia was brought down in the box.
The game became an Oshoala affair as the Arsenal Ladies forward in the 62nd minute latched onto a header by Chioma Wogu to ghost past a defender before smashing the ball past Mali goalkeeper Goundo for the fourth goal.
Oshoala scored her fourth of the game and Nigeria’s sixth from a good pass by captain Rita Chikwelu in the 79th minute.
The Falcons face stronger opponents on Wednesday when they clash against their bitter rivals Ghana, who beat Kenya 3-1 in the other Group B fixture.
Oshoala credited her teammates for the victory, saying she had her sights set on winning the title for the country.
“It is not about Asisat Oshoala, rather the whole Nigerian team,” the 22-year-old told Cafonline after the game.
“I did not come with a target in mind to win the Most Valuable Player or the top scorer, rather to make my country proud. And also to show the rest of Africa that we are still around and this is the only way to make that statement.”
Nigeria coach Florence Omagbemi said, “This is our first game and we are in the process of finding our feet. We are through with Mali and looking forward to Ghana. Our focus is to defend our trophy and we have just started.”
Her Mali counterpart Oumar Guindo lamented the huge defeat suffered by his team at the hands of Nigeria.
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