The Super Falcons on Saturday in Gisenyi trounced hosts Rwanda 4-1 in a first leg match in the 2014 African Women Championship qualifiers.
The Falcons started the game brightly by dominating proceedings, but they also threw away the many scoring chances they created.
Asisat Oshoala, however, opened scoring in the 37th minute with a volley from inside the box, while Desire Oparanozie set up Oshoala three minutes later for the second goal.
The six-times African champions made it 3-0 immediately after resumption when team captain, Evelyn Nwabuoku, found Esther Sunday who beat the Rwanda goalkeeper with a low shot.
Rwanda pulled a goal back in the 65th minute when Clementine Mukamana’s free kick beat Precious Dede in goal for Nigeria.
Seemingly stunned by the goal, the Nigerian girls piled pressure on their hosts and Oparanozie was brought down inside the penalty box.
She rose to convert the resultant penalty kick for the Falcons’ fourth goal in the match.
Falcons’ Coach, Edwin Okon, said it was a good game for his side, even though he felt the scoreline did not justify the game.
Okon said the Falcons should have scored more goals if they had converted the numerous chances created.
He said: “It is a good game, a good win. We did not expect it to be this easy, but we take positives in the girls’ teamwork. But they lost so many scoring chances.
“However, we shall go back and work on them to ensure that they do not repeat the misses again in Nigeria.”
The second leg of the qualifier will be played in Nigeria on June 7.
The AWC is scheduled to hold in Namibia from October 11 to 25.
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