•Falcons reclaim African crown
•Perpetua wins top scorer award
•MVP — Stella Mbachu
•Fair Play Award
Nigeria’s Super Falcons re-claimed the African Women’s Championship with a 4-2 victory over Equatorial Guinea Sunday at the Sinama Stadium on the outskirts of Johannesburg.

It was also a sweet revenge for the Nigerians against a team who dethroned them two years ago.

The Falcons also scooped the top scorer award, Most Valuable Player award as well as the Fair Play trophy in a tournament they dominated from start to finish.

“We came here to win and we won,” said a jubilant Falcons coach, Eucharia Uche.
“We were determined to win this trophy and we gave it our best shot,” added striker Ugochi Oparanozie, one of several youngsters given their chance at this tournament.

The Super Falcons of Nigeria after beating Equatorial Guinea 4-2 to regain the African Women Championship trophy, in South Africa.

Equatorial Guinea coach, Jean-Paul Mpila, lamented the two own goals his team conceded in an exciting final.

“We are disappointed to have lost this match because we came to win. The two own goals we conceded due to the strong wind hurt us,” he moaned.

Tournament top scorer Perpetua Nkwocha netted her 11th goal after seven minutes when she fired home from the top of the box after Equatorial Guinea defence failed to clear an Uloma Jerome right cross.

Young Falcons striker Oparanozie fluffed several chances in the first half including a sitter when all alone with the Guinea goalkeeper after 19 minutes.

Equatorial Guinea also threatened the Nigerian goal and even had a goal disallowed for an infringement on goalkeeper Precious Dede.

However, in the second half, the islanders enjoyed a fine opening spell with the controversial Salimata Simpore a constant goal threat.

At the other end of the pitch, Oparanozie was denied by a fine save on 59 minutes and then saw her header go wide off the mark moments later.

The 2008 champions drew level in the 62nd minute when star defender Caroline Parreira cashed in on a mix-up between goalkeeper Dede and Helen Ukaonu when dealing with a corner.

LETS GO DANCING-•••Super Falcons are not only champions in women football. They are also champions in dancing. The girls showed off their stuff in dancing after tearing Equatorial Guinea to shreds 4-2 to reclaim the AWC trophy in South Africa.

Oparanozie will make up for her earlier misses in the 76th minute when she powered home a header off a corner taken by Ukaonu.

And just moments after danger woman, Salimata missed a sitter, the Falcons increased their lead when Equatorial Guinea defender Salome Nke put the ball into her own net while trying to deal with a right cross delivered by tournament MVP, Stella Mbachu.
Substitute Boho Jade reduced the tally in the 81st after poor defending by Nigeria, before Parriera turned from heroine to zero when she stabbed a right cross by Oparanozie into her own goal.

In stoppage time, Glory Iroka and Ukaonu came close to extending the Falcons advantage.

Hosts South Africa beat Cameroon 2-0 in the third-placed match thanks to goals from Nocawe Skiti and Amanda Dlamini.

Falcons return on Monday

Victorious Super Falcons return on Monday after a successful campaign in the 2010 African Women Championsip.

The Falcons who defeated Equatorial Guinea in the final of the tournament staged in South Africa will jet in alongside the minister of sports and chairman of the national sports commission, Ibrahim Isah Bio, the Nigeria Football Federation president, Aminu Maigari and other top members of the NFF executive.

Disclosing this to Sports Vanguard Sunday night, coach of the team, Eucharia Uche said, “Please, spare me this moment. I’m still in celebration mood.