Ngozi Okobi who was voted the Most Valuable Player (MVP) in
Super Falcons 4-2 win of Ivory Coast on Saturday at the ongoing Africa Women
Championship (AWC) says the best of the team is yet to come.
"I was overwhelmed when I was named the Most Valuable
Player and I dedicate the award to my family."
Super Falcons |
"What we played against Cote d' Ivoire is just a tip of
the iceberg as Super Falcons are capable of doing greater things in this
championship. We always knew the Ivoirians who eliminated the 2012 champions
Equatorial Guinea will be tough so we took them seriously.”
"In the next game we will see a different Falcons. We
shall play better now that we have navigated our opening game successfully. Out
target is to reclaim the title and we are here to give our best to achieve that,"
Okobi stated.
The Super Falcons opened scoring in the 12th minute of the
game through Esther Sunday who latched on to a sassy play by Okobi to beat the
Ivory Coast goalkeeper.
The Ivoirians responded 10 minutes later when Rebecca Elloh
was fell in the box by Onome Ebi and Fatou Culibaly Tiegnou coolly beat
Precious Dede to level up score at 1-1.
Falcons persistent pressure yielded fruit in the 54th minute
when Mariam Diakite scored an own goal while attempting to clear her goal area
to give the Nigerians a 2-1 lead.
Desire Oparanozie made it 3-1 in the 74th with a good finish
from Esther Sunday's floater. But Cote d’ Ivoire pegged Nigeria back when
Christine Lehoues Yeble was gifted a loose ball to fire home.
Oparanozie completed the scoring with three minutes left of
play benefitting from A pass from Asisat Oshoala to make it 4-2.
Speaking after the match Nigeria's coach Edwin Okon said the
Ivoirians gave the Falcons a good game, noting that they never played under
pressure.
He said that winning the cup is not negotiable and that Super Falcons will continue to improve.
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