Desire Oparanozie's 54th minute goal on Tuesday night at the Stade Municipal de Limbe, gave the Super Falcons a 1-0 victory and the ticket to the final of the 10th Africa Women's Cup of Nations (AWCON) at the expense of the Banyana Banyana of South Africa.
The seven-time African champions will now face the hosts, the Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon in Saturday's final billed for the Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo, Yaounde.
Nigeria were lucky to finish the first half with a clean slate as what would have been the curtain raiser by the Desire Ellis-piloted side was scored from an offside position.
The Florence Omagbemi-team missed a pocket of chances especially in the first half before the Guingamp of France striker, Oparanozie scored what turned out to be the winner nine minutes into the second half with a thunderous free kick close to the goal area, which caught goalkeeper Andile Dlamini helpless.
Faith Ikidi had been fouled by an overzealous Banyana Banyana player leading to the award of infringement in favour of the reigning African champions.
Asisat Oshoala, who is leading the goal chart with six goals, was axed in a goal-bound move in the 85th minute but the centre referee turned a blind eye to the penalty appeal
.
Meanwhile, the hosts made it to the final courtesy of the 72nd minute goal by Raissa Feudijo which silenced the Black Queens of Ghana in the tension-soaked match in Yaounde.
The Ghanaian goalkeeper, Ama Nana Asantewa was had misjudged a cross while Raissa cashed in on the rebound to flick the ball into the roof of the net after Njoya Ajara's effort had been cleared off the line.
Patricia Mantey later finished the match for the Black Queens after Asantewa was stretchered off as a result of a head injury.
Mantey was brilliant enough to stop what would have given the hosts another goal in the dying minutes when she tipped Michelle Ngono Mani's rocket of a shot over the bar.
It will be recalled that Nigeria defeated Cameroon 5-0 in the final of the 2004 edition in South Africa and also two years ago in the final in Namibia 2-0.
The Lionesses, it will be recalled, had defeated the Falcons 1-0 to win the bronze at the 2012 edition.................
Caption:
Desire Oparanozie, scored the match winner for Nigeria.
It was a repeat of last year's final as Sylvester Emmanuel and Moses Michael clashed in the Men's Singles final of the 30th Dala Hard Court Tennis Championship last weekend in Kano.
Emmanuel won last year after three sets which produced 6-4, 6-7(4), 6-3 but this time, he retained the title with a 7-6, 6-4 victory over his arch rival.
Interestingly, it was also a sweet revenge for Emmanuel having lost to Moses, winner of the 2014 Lagos Governor's Tennis Cup during their meeting in this year's CBN Senior Tennis Championship held in June in Lagos.
Kaduna-based Emmanuel, who was one of the two Nigerian players who finished in the quarter-final of the 2016 Lagos Governor's Tennis Cup, received N800,000 as prize money for successfully defending his Dala Hard Court Tennis title.
Meanwhile, Christy Agugbom also successfully defended the Women’s Singles title beating
Blessing Samuel 6-2, 6-7, 7-6 in an excruciating final.
Agugbom, got N500,000 as prize money for her victory over Samuel, who sent the 2014 winner and last year's finalist, Sarah Adegoke packing in the semi-final of this year's tournament in a match which ended in 6-1, 5-7, 6-3.
Caption:
Sylvester Emmanuel cooling off with water during a game.
What turned out to be another upset at the ongoing 30th Dala Hard Court tennis Championship in Kano was recorded on Thursday, as former Nigeria's number one, Abdulmumin Babalola was bundled out of the tournament by Joseph Imeh.
Imeh in an explosive Men's Singles quarter-final clash stunned Ibadan-based Babalola as he came from behind to win the match 3-6, 7-6, 7-6.
The former Nigeria junior player, Imeh who is eyeing his first national senior title will on Friday face top seed, Moses Micheal in the semi-final after the latter had triumphed over Shehu Lawal 6-1, 0-6, 6-4 in another quarter-final pairing.
Moses had conquered Clifford Enosoregbe 6-3, 6-4 in the second round amid his devastating form to overwhelm Nigeria’s best performer at the 2016 Lagos Governor’s Cup Tennis Championship, Enosoregbe who made it to the quarter-final of the International Tennis Federation-ranked tournament last month.
“This is undoubtedly one of the toughest matches I have ever played in my career. Mumin’s experience reflected in his game but I was so determined not to lose the game and in the end I won. We were both tired because we played so many games. I thank God I won in the end and I now believe I can beat anybody and win the tournament,” an elated Imeh said.
Interestingly, it was also a sad day for another Ibadan-based player, Sarah Adegoke as she lost in the semi-final of the Women's Singles.
Adegoke, last year's finalist tried her best to contain the firepower of Blessing Samuel, but to no avail as the match ended in 6-1, 5-7, 6-3.
The 2014 Dala Hard Court champion, Adegoke, had in the quarter-final came from a set down to beat Ronke Akingbade 4-6, 6-2, 6-0.
Defending champion, Christy Agubgom is a game left to retain her title as she dumped Patience Onobamhoin also on Thursday to book a final showdown with Samuel.
Also in the Men's Singles, Thomas Otu, former Nigeria number one ranked player defeated Emmanuel Idoko 6-3, 6-2 and will face the winner between defending champion, Sylvester Emmanuel and Emmanuel Sunday whose game was suspended due to poor visibility at 1-1 major. The match will be completed on Friday (November 25) morning.
In his remarks, Yusuf Datti, the Chief Operating Officer of the tournament said he was
impressed with the quality of play.
“It has been a very tough championship as all the players are so much determined to go for the top prize. The match between Imeh and Babalola is a classic so also the match involving Moses and Lawal. It has been an impressive tournament by all standard,” Datti said.
The men’s singles champion will go home with N800,000 while the women’s champion will pocket N500,000 as prize money according to the organisers of the annual tournament.
..............
Caption:
Sarah Adegoke (left), crashed out of the Women's Singles and Moses Michael, still in the race to win the Men's Singles of the ongoing Dala Hart Court Tennis in Kano.
Hard fighting Christopher Edwards on Tuesday qualified for the second round of the Men's Singles of the ongoing 2016 Dala Hard Court Tennis Championship at the Kano Tennis Club.
Edward, who reached the second round of the just-ended Lagos Governor's Tennis Cup championship triumphed 6-0, 6-2 over Ikilil Sani-Waziri.
The Benue State-born player told www.harmonysport.blogspot.com that he is well-prepared
to make a statement at Dala 2016.
"I gained a lot from participating at the Lagos Governor's Cup and I believe I will put that experience to bear on the Dala Hard Court. I will take every game as it comes and I believe it is going to be a fight to the finish. Mental toughness helped me to stop Waziri and this victory is a morale booster," Edward said.
He added that he is battle-ready to face the 'giant killer' Emmanuel Idoko saying "I will remain focused and take every game seriously and hope for luck as well".
Idoko, it will be recalled, created what served as the first major
upset in the tournament as he dumped the 2014 CBN Open champion, Henry
Atseye 6-3, 6-3 on Tuesday to land in the next round.
Meanwhile, defending champion, Sylvester Emmanuel began his title defence with a 6-3,
6-3 victory over Tochukwu Ezeh as his elder brother, Sunday Emmanuel, who won the title in 2013 also secured a 6-0, 6-2 win over Dauda Ayuba to advance in the Men's Singles.
Thomas Otu, the 2015 CBN winner also advanced after defeating Idris Aiyu 6-4, 6-4, as Nonso Madueke stopped John Otu 6-1, 6-4, while Albert Bikom triumphed over Ibrahim Badamasi 6-4, 7-5. Joseph Imeh beat Monday Igbinovia 3-6, 5-3 rtd to move to the next round as well as Chritopher Bulus who dumped Shehu Adamu 7-6, 5-1 rtd.
In some of the Women’s Singles matches decided on Tuesday, Christy Nwankwo defeated
Pauline Ebijimi 6-3, 6-2 while Loveth Donatus dumped Colleen Orji 6-2, 6-2.
Christy Agugbom is the defending champion of the Women's Singles after beating Sarah
Adegoke during last year's final.
............
Caption:
Edwards Christopher in a spectacular move during a recent championship. He is through to the second round of the ongoing Dala Hard Court Tennis Cup in Kano.
Governor's Cup
1945 : Marine 1-0 Corinthians
1946 : Lagos Railways 3-1 Port Harcourt FC
1947 : Marine 3-1 Lagos Railways
1948 : Lagos Railways 1-0 Warri
1949 : Lagos Railways 3-0 Port Harcourt FC
1950 : Lagos UAC 3-2 Port Harcourt FC
1951 : Lagos Railways 3-2 Mighty Jets (Jos)
1952 : Lagos PAN Bank 6-0 Warri (Mid-West)
1953 : Kano Pillars F.C. 2-1 Lagos Dynamos
FA Cup
1954 : Calabar 3-0 Kano Pillars F.C.
1955 : Port Harcourt FC 4-1 Warri
1956 : Lagos Railways 3-1 Warri
1957 : Lagos Railways 5-1 Zaria
1958 : Port Harcourt FC 6-0 Federal United
1959 : Ibadan Lions 1-0 Police
Challenge Cup
1960 : Lagos ECN 5-2 Ibadan Lions
1961 : Ibadan Lions 2-1 Lagos UAC
1962 : Police 1-0 Mighty Jets (Jos)
1963 : Port Harcourt FC 1-0 Mighty Jets (Jos)
1964 : Lagos Railways 3-1 Mighty Jets (Jos)
1965 : Lagos ECN 3-1 Mighty Jets (Jos)
1966 : Ibadan Lions beat Mighty Jets (Jos)
1967 : Stationery Stores (Lagos) 3-1 Mighty Jets (Jos)
1968 : Stationery Stores (Lagos) 3-1 (r.) Warri
1969 : Ibadan Lions 5-1 Warri
1970 : Lagos ECN 3-1 Mighty Jets (Jos)
1971 : WNDC Ibadan 2-1 Enugu Rangers
1972 : Bendel Insurance (Benin City) 2-2 3-2 Mighty Jets (Jos)
1973 : No competition
1974 : Enugu Rangers 2-0 Mighty Jets (Jos)
1975 : Enugu Rangers 1-0 Shooting Stars FC (Ibadan)
1976 : Enugu Rangers 2-0 Alyufsalam Rocks (Ilorin)
1977 : Shooting Stars FC (Ibadan) 2-0 Racca Rovers
1978 : Bendel Insurance 3-0 Enugu Rangers
1979 : Shooting Stars FC (Ibadan) 2-0 Sharks FC (Port Harcourt)
1980 : Bendel Insurance (Benin City) 1-0 Stationery Stores (Lagos)
1981 : Enugu Rangers 2-0 Bendel Insurance (Benin City)
1982 : Stationery Stores (Lagos) 4-1 Niger Tornadoes (Minna)
1983 : Enugu Rangers 0-0 (5 t.a.b. à 4) DIC Bees (Kaduna)
1984 : Leventis United (Ibadan) 1-0 Abiola Babes (Abeokuta)
1985 : Abiola Babes (Abeokuta) (6 t.a.b. à 5) BCC Lions (Gboko)
1986 : Leventis United (Ibadan) 1-0 Abiola Babes (Abeokuta)
1987 : Abiola Babes (Abeokuta) 1-1 (7 t.a.b. à 6) Ranchers Bees
1988 : Iwuanyanwu Nationale (Owerri) 3-0 Flash Flamingoes
1989 : BCC Lions (Gboko) 1-0 Iwuanyanwu Nationale (Owerri)
1990 : Stationery Stores (Lagos) 0-0 (5 t.a.b. à 4) Enugu Rangers
1991 : El-Kanemi Warriors (Maiduguri) 3-2 Kano Pillars F.C.
1992 : El-Kanemi Warriors (Maiduguri) 1-0 Stationery Stores (Lagos)
1993 : BCC Lions (Gboko) 1-0 Plateau United (Jos)
1994 : BCC Lions (Gboko) 1-0 Julius Berger FC (Lagos)
1995 : Shooting Stars FC (Ibadan) 2-0 Katsina United
1996 : Julius Berger FC (Lagos) 1-0 (a.p.) Katsina United
1997 : BCC Lions (Gboko) 1-0 Katsina United
1998 : Wikki Tourists (Bauchi) 0-0 (3 t.a.b. à 2) Plateau United (Jos)
Coca Cola FA Cup
1999 : Plateau United (Jos) 1-0 Iwuanyanwu Nationale (Owerri)
2000 : Niger Tornadoes (Minna) 1-0 Enugu Rangers
2001 : Dolphin FC (Port Harcourt) 2-0 El-Kanemi Warriors (Maiduguri)
2002 : Julius Berger FC (Lagos) 3-0 Yobe Stars (Damaturu)
2003 : Lobi Stars (Makurdi) 2-0 Sharks FC (Port Harcourt)
2004 : Dolphin FC (Port Harcourt) 1-0 Enugu Rangers
2005 : Enyimba FC (Aba) 1-1 Lobi Stars (Makurdi) (aet, 6-5 pen)
2006 : Dolphin FC (Port Harcourt) 2-2 Bendel Insurance (aet, 5-3 pen)
2007 : Dolphin FC (Port Harcourt) 1-1 Enugu Rangers (aet, 3-2 pen)
2008 : Ocean Boys FC (Brass) 2-2 Gombe United FC (aet, 7-6 pen)
Federation Cup
2009 : Enyimba FC (Aba) 1-0 Sharks FC (Port Harcourt)
2010 : Kaduna United F.C. 3-3 Enyimba FC (Aba) (aet, 3-2 pen)
2011 : Heartland F.C. 1-0 Enyimba FC (Aba)
2012 : Heartland F.C. 2-1 Lobi Stars
2013 : Enyimba F.C. 2-2 Warri Wolves (aet, 5-4 pen)
2014 : Enyimba FC (Aba) 2-1 Dolphin FC (Port Harcourt)
2015 : Akwa United F.C 2-1 Lobi Stars
2016 : FC IfeanyiUbah 5 Nasarawa Utd 4 (pen)
1991 Rivers Angels (PH)
1992 Ufuoma Babes (Warri)
1993 Ufuoma Babes (Warri)
1994 Ufuoma Babes (Warri)
1995 Pelican Stars (Calabar)
1996 Ufuoma Babes (Warri)
1997 Pelican Stars (Calabar)
1998 Pelican Stars (Calabar)
1999 Pelican Stars (Calabar)
2000 FCT Queens (Abuja)
2001 Pelican Stars (Calabar)
2002 Pelican Stars (Calabar)
2003 Not played
2004 Delta Queens (Asaba)
2005 Nassarawa Amazons (Lafia)
2006 Delta Queens (Asaba)
2007/08 Delta Queens (Asaba)
2009 Delta Queens (Asaba)
2010 Rivers Angels (Port Harcourt)
2011 Rivers Angels (Port Harcourt)
2012 Rivers Angels (Port Harcourt)
2013 Rivers Angels (Port Harcourt)
2014 Rivers Angels (Port Harcourt)
2015 Sunshine Queens (Akure)
2016 Rivers Angels 3 Bayelsa Queens 2 (pen) 1-1 at regulation time
Caption: Rivers Angels... reclaim the Women's Federation Cup title.
