AWCON 2018: SA stun Nigeria as Zambia go atop

South Africa on Sunday stunned Nigeria’s Super Falcons in a 1-0 win in the first game of Group B at the ongoing Women Africa Cup of nations.

The game between Nigeria and South Africa was like a heavy metal versus classical music and Thembi Kgatlana helped Desiree Ellis in her conducting as she scored the decider.

Thembi Kgatlana watched the long pass over her shoulders before lashing it past Nigeria’s goalkeeper Tochuku Oluehi for her first goal in the competition.

Coach for Banyana Banyana Desiree Ellis described Kgatlana’s goal as a moment of brilliance and said the victory is not only for the team but for the people back home.

“Even though they had a lot of possession, they didn’t really fight us except only one moment,” she said, adding: “It took us a moment of brilliance to decide the match”.

“We planned very well and executed it. We gave it all out there and we said the first game of the tournament is most important and it is even bigger playing Nigeria.

“The victory is not only for us but for the people back home,” Desiree noted.

Nigeria, who have won eight out of the ten editions of the tournament, were beaten by a collective effort from the South African team.

In the day’s second match, Zambia were 5-0 emphatic winners over former champions Equatorial Guinea.

Zambia produced a dominant display in the highest scoring game of the tourney.

Grance Banda and Ireen Lungu had put the Shepolopolo 2-0 up before half-time with Mary Mwakapila and two goals from Rachael Kundanaji giving Zambia a big victory.

This means that Zambia are now top of the group level on points with South Africa but have a superior goal difference.

Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea are yet to register any point.

By Yeboah Daniel|3news.com|Ghana