In the WAFU B Women’s Cup Nigeria vs Ghana opener, Nigeria’s Falconets delivered a poised and clinical 3-1 victory over the Black Princesses in Adjouhoun on Saturday, a statement start powered by a Janet Akeremkowei brace and sealed by a late finish from Favour Nkwocha.
The rivalry always crackles when these two meet, and this latest chapter carried the same bite, only this time it was Nigeria’s composure that told when the game tilted to the big moments. The Falconets handled pressure, took their chances, and left the defending champions chasing the score for most of the afternoon.
Falconets strike first through Akeremkowei
Bayelsa Queens striker Janet Akeremkowei set the tone with a cool penalty in the 40th minute, a finish that gave Nigeria the lead after a tight opening phase. The forward then doubled the advantage just before halftime, a ruthless show of timing and confidence that put the Falconets in command.
In a contest this finely balanced, that second goal carried real weight. It rewarded the poise of Moses Aduku’s team, and it shifted the dynamic, as Ghana had to chase, while Nigeria could lean on structure and patience. It also underlined how Akeremkowei’s instincts can shape a heavyweight fixture with a single swing of momentum.
Black Princesses hit back after the restart
Ghana responded with urgency right after the interval, refusing to let the game drift away. Sarah Nyarko’s strike four minutes into the second half dragged the score back to 2-1 and reopened the contest, a reminder that the defending champions still carried threat and belief.
That goal injected edge into the match and demanded resilience from Nigeria. The Falconets had to absorb energy from a revived Ghanaian side, then settle the tempo on their own terms. The response was mature, measured, and reflective of a group that trusted its structure.
Nkwocha’s late finish settles a fierce contest
As Ghana pushed, time narrowed and nerves tested both sides. Then came the late release for Nigeria, a decisive finish from Favour Nkwocha in the 88th minute that put the result beyond doubt and restored a two-goal cushion. The moment was described as a stunner from a corner in an update from Nigeria’s account, a fitting flourish for a polished performance.
With that strike, the Falconets turned a tense closing spell into a clear win, and they did it without losing focus. It was a reminder that this group carries match winners in key areas, and that their set piece accuracy can tilt margins when legs get heavy and decisions matter most.
Full time in Adjouhoun. Ghana 1-3 Nigeria. The defending champions fell to their fiercest rivals, with goals credited to Siemeyeha Janet and a late finish to seal it.
Akeremkowei’s star turn and the value of timing
Two goals in the span where matches are often defined, first from the spot and then just before the break, said everything about Akeremkowei’s day. Penalties test technique and nerve, and this one demanded both. The follow-up, arriving on the cusp of halftime, was a momentum punch that asked Ghana to reset a plan on the fly.
Performances like this shape tournaments. The forward’s decisiveness, paired with the trust of her teammates, gives Nigeria a reliable cutting edge. For a team that aims to control big contests, having a striker who thrives when it counts is not a luxury, it is a platform.
Ghana’s champion spirit meets a firm Nigerian response
Facing the reigning title holders added gravitas to the opener. The Black Princesses did what champions do when behind, they responded quickly and kept the contest alive. Nyarko’s goal changed the feel of the match and forced the Falconets to show steel as well as flair.
Nigeria’s answer was to keep structure, pick moments, and stay efficient. That blend of patience and punch is why the 3-1 reads not only as a win but as a clear sign of maturity. It is the kind of result that suggests a group comfortable with pressure and unafraid to solve problems in live time.
Coaching imprint and squad confidence
Credit to coach Moses Aduku for the clarity of Nigeria’s approach. The Falconets balanced front-foot ambition with discipline in key phases, and they managed the momentum swings that a rivalry always brings. The trust between staff and players showed in the way the team closed the contest.
When a team profiles as organised and opportunistic, it points to diligent preparation and a shared understanding of roles. That identity came through against a quality opponent, and it will matter even more on a quick turnaround.
What the result means for Nigeria
Starting a campaign with a victory over Ghana gives the Falconets both points and belief. It also lifts the group into the rhythm of tournament play, where results must come even when performances fluctuate. Beating the defending champions in the first outing signals intent, and it sets a high internal standard.
Attention now pivots to the Young Amazons of the Benin Republic on Sunday morning, a quick chance to reinforce momentum. Managing energy, keeping focus, and building on the sharpness shown in Adjouhoun will be the themes as Nigeria look to consolidate their start.
Key moments
- Penalty breakthrough, Akeremkowei converts in the 40th minute to open the scoring,
- Lead doubled, the Bayelsa Queens striker strikes again just before halftime,
- Immediate response, Ghana’s Sarah Nyarko pulls one back four minutes after the restart.
- Late assurance, Favour Nkwocha scores in the 88th minute to seal a 3-1 win,
- Champion test, the Black Princesses, as defending title holders, push but cannot overturn the gap,
- Next assignment, the Falconets face the Young Amazons of the Benin Republic on Sunday morning.
Numbers that frame the story
Sometimes the simplest figures speak loudest. Three goals to one, and a two-goal lead carefully reestablished at the close, map directly to control and timing. Akeremkowei’s brace anchors the narrative, Nyarko’s reply adds tension, and Nkwocha’s strike resolves it.
It is a clean arc, and it reflects the discipline that defined Nigeria’s afternoon. The scoreboard captured both the game’s ebb and the Falconets’ knack for decisive touches when the spotlight brightened.
Rivalry renewed with respect and resolve
Nigeria versus Ghana carries layers of history, pride, and expectation, and the energy in Adjouhoun matched the significance. This time, the Falconets owned the headline moments, and they did so with a blend of calm and conviction that travels well in tournament play.
The result reads as more than a bright start. It is a marker of readiness, a message that this team can take initiative against top opposition and keep its head when the reply comes. On a day that demanded nerve, Nigeria found it early, then found it again at the finish.
Final word
From the first-half brace to the late clincher, Nigeria’s opener embodied economy and edge. The Falconets combined patience with precision, and they did it against a champion group that asked real questions after the interval. The reward is momentum, and the road points next to the Young Amazons, where the same clarity, the same belief, and the same commitment to big-moment execution will be needed.
For supporters, this was a performance to savor. For the squad, it is a base to build on, one confident step at a time, with eyes fixed on the deeper challenges that await in the WAFU B Women’s Cup.
