Nkwocha Celebrates W/Cup Goal At Last

It has taken 12 years for the Super Falcons, and eight years for Perpetua Nkwocha, but on Tuesday in Dresden, one goal from the forward snapped two of Nigeria’s most unwanted records.

The team’s 1-0 win over Canada secured their first World Cup victory since a  2-1 triumph over Denmark in 1999, and Nkwocha got her first career World Cup goal since her debut in 2003.

Perhaps they were aided by about 10 minutes of power outage in Dresden, but the Falcons, and Nkwocha, came away totally deserving of the points they earned from turning over Canada, ranked 6th in the Fifa Women’s World Rankings.

Two losses each in their earlier games meant both sides were already eliminated coming into this final game, but there was nothing remotely resembling a dead rubber in it.

Canada took charge in the opening minutes, and could have gone in front less than a minute from kickoff when Precious Dede again flapped at a long, looped ball.

Luckily, Christine Sinclair still looked a bit shaky from her broken nose against Germany and hesitated. That allowed the defence to clear.

The Falcons gradually got a foothold in the game and created good chances which Nkwocha, and then Ebere Orji failed to put away.

Even the post was getting involved. Twice it stopped Nigeria, and once came to the aid of Dede as the first half finished scoreless.

With 20 minutes of play left, the game was interrupted by power failure. Suggestions from Nigerians on Twitter was that the Falcons had travelled with their own electricity.

If so, it proved inspired. Minutes after resumption, and as the Canadians looked like they were still trying to get their heads around what had happened, Nkwocha took advantage.

Ugochi Oparanozie found space to run at the defence, only to see her shot was blocked. The block was only as far as Iroka however, and she she attempted to unleash one from distance.

That took a slight deflection straight into Nkwocha’s path, She never misses from that distance and this time was no different.

A second goal came very close. Nkwocha drifted wide and cut back a superb ball, but Ordega and Esther Sunday both failed to get any sort of contact.

Dede was called up to make one last save from Christine Sinclair, but the Falcons were good value for their win.