Cameroon coach Enow Ngachu on Sunday conceded that Nigeria were superior in Saturday’s African Women’s Cup of Nations final at the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium in Yaounde.
The Super Falcons won the encounter 1-0 courtesy of France-based forward Desire Oparanozie’s late strike to rule the elite women’s tournament for the eighth time (1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2010, 2014 and 2016).
Nigeria claimed their fourth title in South Africa in 2004 after humiliating the Indomitable Lionesses 5-0 in the final – and returned 10 years later to win their seventh title after beating their bitter rivals 2-0 in the Namibia 2014 final at the Sam Nujoma Stadium in Windhoek.
Ngachu, who watched helplessly from the dugout as the Falcons disgraced his team to win the title in Namibia, had vowed the Lionesses would emerge triumphant on home soil on Saturday.
With Nigeria winning the trophy for the third time at Cameroon’s expense, the Lionesses boss admits the Falcons “are the best team in Africa”.
“I congratulate Nigeria on their victory. It shows once again that they are the best team in Africa,” Ngachu was quoted by Camfoot as saying.
He rued his side’s missed chances in the clash, blaming their inability to finish off their chances for the defeat.
Ngachu said, “Nigeria lacked coherence. We created good scoring opportunities but we couldn’t utilise them. We failed again when it mattered most.”
Nigeria coach Florence Omagbemi said the Falcons were determined to defend their title in Cameroon.
“I came with my team to defend our title,” Omagbemi, who has made history as the first woman coach to with title as player and coach, said.
The former Falcons captain, added, “I wish CAF would organise many competitions to give us the opportunity to play with other countries to keep a good level of play.”