Brave display by Gladiators

Nigeria’s Super Falcons showed why they are the African champions when they beat Namibia’s Brave Gladiators 3-0 with a clinical display in an African Nations Cup qualifier on Friday.

The Super Falcons dazzled the crowd with some great football and had it not been for Namibia’s courageous defending, the score could have been much higher. Such was their dominance, that they had more than ten clear-cut chances in the first half alone.But they couldn’t break down Namibia’s defence and by halftime the teams were still tied at 0-0.But Nigeria finally broke through shortly after the restart and three goals in quick succession sealed their victory.Namibia, however, didn’t give up, and created some great chances towards the end of the match, which they failed to convert.A crowd of more than 3 000 people packed the Khomasdal Stadium to watch Namibia take on the African champions on home soil and they were not disappointed.Nigeria immediately went on the attack, using their wingers effectively.In the opening ten minutes they already forced three corners, but Namibian keeper Bonitha Eixas was solid in goals.Nigeria missed a great chance when Ifeanyi Chiejine crossed the ball to an unmarked Perpetua Nkwocha, who missed an open goal, with Eixas off her line.A minute later Nkwocha headed just wide from a cross by Tawa Ishela, as Nigeria started to lay siege to Namibia’s goals.Further attacks by Ishela, Faith Ikide and Kikewome Ajayi were thwarted before Stella Williams initiated Namibia’s first real attack.She exchanged neat passes with Juliana Skrywer to set Salome Iyambo clear, but Nigeria’s defence snuffed out the chance.The chances continued to come at the other end, with Eixas pulling off a great save from an Efionawan Ekpo header, while Perpetua Nkwocha shot wide from a corner.Eixas once again saved well from another Ekpo header, and then tipped a scorching shot by Rita Chikwelu over for a corner.Namibia’s only chances of note came via Williams and Skrywer who combined well on the attack, but their finishing was below par.Namibia started the second half in great style when Williams put Skrwyer clear, but Nigeria’s keeper Precious Dede pulled off a great save from Skrywer’s scorcher.But it was Nigeria who finally broke the deadlock when Rita Chikwelu weaved through Namibia’s defence to score a great solo goal on 55 minutes.Barely three minutes later they went 2-0 up when to Ifeanyi Chiejine stabbed in a cross by Faith Ikide.Efionawan Ekpo scored Nigeria’s final goal on 65 minutes after a great array of passes that left Namibia’s defence chasing thin air.Pandemonium nearly broke out midway through the second half when an injured Nigerian player was treated on the field and some Namibian players rushed over to force her off the field.Nearly all the players got involved in heated arguments and scuffles and the referee had her hands full to regain control of the match.With Nigeria well ahead they stepped off the pedal and Namibia finished the match stronger.Williams once again put Skrywer clear who shot narrowly wide of the mark, while Emma Awises and Natasha Ndjao exchanged some neat passes.Towards the end of the match Awises put Skrywer clear on goal with a great pass, but Nigerian keeper Dede just managed to save in time.Despite the scoreline, the Brave Gladiators can hold their heads high after a brave and committed display.Eixas had a great match in goal, while Queen Manga and Rejoice Kasaona were steady at the back.But it was the brilliant combinations between Williams and Skrywer that had the crowd on the edge of their seats and shouting for more.Namibia still have to play Nigeria in the second leg match in Lagos this month, and although they will almost certainly be eliminated, the Super Falcons will have gained a lot of respect for the Brave Gladiators.- www.namibiasport.com.naSuch was their dominance, that they had more than ten clear-cut chances in the first half alone.But they couldn’t break down Namibia’s defence and by halftime the teams were still tied at 0-0.But Nigeria finally broke through shortly after the restart and three goals in quick succession sealed their victory.Namibia, however, didn’t give up, and created some great chances towards the end of the match, which they failed to convert.A crowd of more than 3 000 people packed the Khomasdal Stadium to watch Namibia take on the African champions on home soil and they were not disappointed.Nigeria immediately went on the attack, using their wingers effectively.In the opening ten minutes they already forced three corners, but Namibian keeper Bonitha Eixas was solid in goals.Nigeria missed a great chance when Ifeanyi Chiejine crossed the ball to an unmarked Perpetua Nkwocha, who missed an open goal, with Eixas off her line.A minute later Nkwocha headed just wide from a cross by Tawa Ishela, as Nigeria started to lay siege to Namibia’s goals.Further attacks by Ishela, Faith Ikide and Kikewome Ajayi were thwarted before Stella Williams initiated Namibia’s first real attack.She exchanged neat passes with Juliana Skrywer to set Salome Iyambo clear, but Nigeria’s defence snuffed out the chance.The chances continued to come at the other end, with Eixas pulling off a great save from an Efionawan Ekpo header, while Perpetua Nkwocha shot wide from a corner.Eixas once again saved well from another Ekpo header, and then tipped a scorching shot by Rita Chikwelu over for a corner.Namibia’s only chances of note came via Williams and Skrywer who combined well on the attack, but their finishing was below par.Namibia started the second half in great style when Williams put Skrwyer clear, but Nigeria’s keeper Precious Dede pulled off a great save from Skrywer’s scorcher.But it was Nigeria who finally broke the deadlock when Rita Chikwelu weaved through Namibia’s defence to score a great solo goal on 55 minutes.Barely three minutes later they went 2-0 up when to Ifeanyi Chiejine stabbed in a cross by Faith Ikide.Efionawan Ekpo scored Nigeria’s final goal on 65 minutes after a great array of passes that left Namibia’s defence chasing thin air.Pandemonium nearly broke out midway through the second half when an injured Nigerian player was treated on the field and some Namibian players rushed over to force her off the field.Nearly all the players got involved in heated arguments and scuffles and the referee had her hands full to regain control of the match.With Nigeria well ahead they stepped off the pedal and Namibia finished the match stronger.Williams once again put Skrywer clear who shot narrowly wide of the mark, while Emma Awises and Natasha Ndjao exchanged some neat passes.Towards the end of the match Awises put Skrywer clear on goal with a great pass, but Nigerian keeper Dede just managed to save in time.Despite the scoreline, the Brave Gladiators can hold their heads high after a brave and committed display.Eixas had a great match in goal, while Queen Manga and Rejoice Kasaona were steady at the back.But it was the brilliant combinations between Williams and Skrywer that had the crowd on the edge of their seats and shouting for more.Namibia still have to play Nigeria in the second leg match in Lagos this month, and although they will almost certainly be eliminated, the Super Falcons will have gained a lot of respect for the Brave Gladiators.- www.namibiasport.com.na