WAFCON qualifier: Nigeria thrash Cape Verde 5-0

Braces from Uchenna Kanu and Esther Okoronkwo and another goal from Monday Gift saw Super Falcons secure a comfortable 5-0 win over Cape Verde in the first leg of their second round of the 2024 Women Africa Cup of Nations qualifier played at the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja.

While Nigeria walked over São Tomé and Príncipe in the first round, Cape Verde claimed an impressive 6-3 aggregate win over Liberia to set up the clash with the Falcons.

The nine-time African champions showed their superiority as they edged closer to the WAFCON scheduled to hold in Morocco next year.

Kanu drew first blood for the Falcons when she found the net with an easy tap from the edge of the box in the seventh minute.

Goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie made a stunning save to deny Cape Verde from equalising shortly after.

It was the wake-up call Nigeria needed as Tenerife forward Monday doubled the lead for the Falcons following a goalmouth scramble in the 25th minute.

Pittsburgh midfielder, Deborah Abiodun, whose turns, swerves and sweet touches were a delight all evening, came close with a 25-yard volley on the half-hour mark, but Kanu made good again just before the break, making no mistake from a pass from Toni Payne on a swift counter-attack launched by Rasheedat Ajibade.

The game ended 5-0, with Nigeria recording their biggest win in a competitive fixture since beating Equatorial Guinea 6-0 at the CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in 2018.

Both sides will face off for the second leg December 5 at the Estádio Nacional de Cabo Verde in Praia, where Nigeria will look to maintain their advantage.