July 19, (THEWILL) – In a game that demonstrated the tenacity of Nigeria’s Super Falcons at the semi-finals of the TotalEnergies 2022 Africa Women’s Cup of Nations, the nine-time champions held the host, Morocco, to a 1-1 tie after extra time while playing the majority of the second half with nine players due to two red cards.
The referee dismissed Halimatu Ayinde and Rasheedat Ajibade for two tackles she deemed malicious. Three minutes into the second half, the video assistant referee intervened, and Ayinde was the first player to be dismissed.
Barely 12 minutes after, the Super Falcons’ Uchenna Kalu, a substitute, broke the tie when she reacted the fastest after Ifeoma Onumonu headed a beautiful cross from the right off the crossbar. Once again, as has been the case for most openings of the Falcons at this tournament, Ajibade was once involved in the buildup.
However, the lead only lasted four minutes as goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie’s error allowed the Atlas Lionesses to equalise. With 20 minutes remaining, the Falcons were reduced to nine when Ajibade was given her marching orders following another VAR intervention. Nigeria had to play the last 20 minutes with a two-player deficit in front of a largely partisan Moroccan crowd.
To the credit of the Nigerians, Morocco did not suddenly dominate after that, but they managed to hold off the defending champions, even through extra time as the Super Falcons held forth until penalties where all but Ifeoma Onumonu, were successful on both sides. Onumonu’s miss means Morocco qualify for their first-ever AWCON championship game and will meet South Africa in the final.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
