AWCON Nigeria 0 South Africa 1 : Disappointing Start For Wasteful Defending Champions

Nigeria's Super Falcons began the defense of their Africa Women Cup of Nations title with a disappointing 1-0 defeat against South Africa at the Cape Coast Stadium, Ghana on Sunday evening.

Chrestina Kgatlana ensured that the Bayana Bayana will clinch their second win against Nigeria in eleven meetings.

The Falcons, eight time champions in previous ten editions of the tournament dominated the first Group B game of the Nations Cup from kick off but the South Africans were gifted two chances to score in the first half after some sloppy defending which they failed to punish the Nigerians for.

Nigeria's first chance to score came in the 33rd minute when Asisat Oshoala teed up Desire Oparanozie but the top scorer at the last edition of the Nations Cup blasted the ball wide.

South Africa's Jermaine Seoposenwe was close to opening her goals account just before the half time break but Osinachi Ohale cleared the ball bravely as the Bayana Bayana striker was set to strike the ball inside the Nigerian box.

Oparanozie spurned another chance four minutes into the second half to give Nigeria the lead after her diving header went wide following a promising build up.

South Africa's Chrestinah Kgatlana broke the deadlock with six minutes to go as she pounced on a beautiful pass into the Nigerian box and unleashed an unstoppable shot beyond Tochukwu Oluehi.

The Falcons will have to defeat Zambia and Equatorial Guinea to guarantee them passage to the semifinals and opportunity to qualify for the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup in France.

Izuchukwu Okosi