Nigeria’s Super Falcons kicked off their bid for a record-extending 10th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title with a convincing 3–0 win over Tunisia in their Group B opener on Sunday evening at the Stade Larbi Zaouli in Casablanca.
Goals from Asisat Oshoala, Rinsola Babajide, and Chinwendu Ihezuo showcased Nigeria’s attacking superiority and reaffirmed their dominance over North African teams in the competition.
The nine-time champions entered the match aiming to shake off a shaky start in recent WAFCON campaigns—having lost their opening matches in 2018 and 2022 to South Africa. They did just that, taking the lead inside four minutes.
After Babajide was fouled near the touchline, she delivered a pinpoint free-kick that found Oshoala in the box. The Barcelona striker rose above the Tunisian defence to head home her 14th WAFCON goal.
The Falcons doubled their lead at the end of first-half stoppage time. Babajide, one of the standout performers, latched onto a through ball and slotted home with her left foot. The goal was initially flagged for offside but later confirmed after a VAR review.
Substitutes Ifeoma Onumonu and Okoronkwo added urgency in the second half, with the latter nearly scoring in the 81st minute before turning provider. In the 84th minute, Okoronkwo nodded a cross from Ashleigh Plumptre into Ihezuo’s path, who finished clinically to seal the result.
Tunisia’s only real threat came in added time when Salma Zemzem struck the crossbar from distance, but it was not enough to break their goal drought, which now spans five WAFCON matches.
The win puts Nigeria at the top of Group B ahead of their next fixture against Botswana, while Tunisia will look to regroup against Algeria.
