The Super Falcons struggled to win the match against the Lioness of Cameroon.

Nigeria’s national women’s team, the Super Falcons, Monday began the defence of their African title on a ‘not too convincing’ note as they struggled to a 2-1 win over the Indomitable Lioness of Cameroon.

The reigning African champions had to curtail the highly physical Cameroonian ladies in addition to the wet pitch inside the Nkoantoma stadium in Bata to beat their West African neighbors by a slim margin. It was the opening game of the AWC taking place in Equatorial Guinea for the second time in the tournament’s history.

The first half of the game was difficult for both sides as an earlier rainfall ensured the pitch was wet and hard for both sides to play free following football or secure a goal.

However, Onyinyechi Ohagugha, defied all odds just at the stroke of the first half to give the defending champions a lead.

On resumption of the second half, Cameroon’s Christiana Patience Mani equalized via a penalty kick to give Nigeria a scare. The Lionesses had stopped Nigeria from qualifying for the football event of the London Olympics.

Falcons struggled to regain the lead, and it was the goal queen Perpetua Nkwocha who scored in the 89th minute to ensure Nigeria earns a precious 2-1 win over Cameroon.