Nigeria Begin WAFCON Bid with Comfortable Win Over Tunisia

Nigeria kicked off their quest for a record-extending 10th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) title with a confident 3-0 victory over Tunisia in Casablanca.

Former Barcelona forward Asisat Oshoala opened the scoring for the Super Falcons in the fourth minute when the 30-year-old pounced on a low inswinging free-kick delivered by Rinsola Babajide from the left flank and bundled the ball home amid a scramble in the Tunisian box.

Babajide, who previously featured for England at youth level before switching allegiance to Nigeria in 2023, doubled the lead in the first minute of first-half stoppage time.

The winger fired clinically past Tunisia goalkeeper Soulaima Jobrani, marking her first ever goal at a senior international tournament.

Chinwendu Ihezuo got Nigeria’s third at the Stade Larbi Zaouli with six minutes remaining after converting a cross from Ashleigh Plumptre.

The win puts Nigeria top of Group B on goal difference ahead of Algeria, who beat Botswana 1-0 thanks to Ghoutia Karchouni’s 10th-minute effort.

Nigeria will face Botswana on Thursday (19:00 GMT), with Tunisia seeking their first point against North African rivals Algeria earlier same day (16:00 GMT).

Perfect start to ‘Mission X’

Nigeria have not lifted the Wafcon trophy since 2018 and, after finishing fourth at the last edition in Morocco in 2022, have targeted regaining their continental crown in what has been dubbed ‘Mission X’.

Oshoala got them up and running with her 31st international goal – although there was a moment of confusion when former Leicester City defender Plumptre was initially credited as the scorer.

The Super Falcons largely dominated possession and territory, exploiting Tunisia’s defensive gaps with pace and width, but survived a scare in the 23rd minute after midfielder Deborah Abiodun committed a clumsy late challenge on Tunisia’s Raina Aouina.

However, Burundian referee Suavis Iratunga opted against issuing a red card and Abiodun received yellow instead to the relief of Nigeria bench.

Babajide made it 2-0 on the stroke of half-time and paid tribute to Diogo Jota, the Liverpool forward who died in a car accident last Thursday, with her goal celebration.

There was still time for the West Africans to threaten again before the break, and Plumptre put the ball in the net from a corner but had her effort ruled out for a foul following a video assistant referee (VAR) review.

Tunisia put in a spirited second-half effort but Nigeria remained in control and the Super Falcons experienced another let-off when the North Africans had a major penalty call turned down in the 76th minute after a VAR review on a challenge by Osinachi Ohale.

Second-half substitute Ihezuo wrapped up the scoring late on to give Africa’s top-ranked side the perfect start to the tournament in Morocco.