It was a dream start to WAFCON 2024 for the Super Falcons of Nigeria, as they cruised past the Carthage Eagles of Tunisia in the opening fixture.
Coach Justin Madugu put out a strong starting eleven, with Asisat Oshoala, Rinsola Babajide, Rasheedat Ajibade, Michelle Alozie, Ashleigh Plumptre and Tosin Demehin all making the lineup.
It was a bright start, as Asisat Oshoala "Agba Baller" got on the end of a brilliant free kick delivery by WAFCON debutant Rinsola Babajide to give the Falcons the lead inside four minutes.
The Falcons continued to mount pressure, as Oshoala got another chance to double the advantage thirteen minutes later, but she could not find the target.
Three minutes to the half-hour mark, Halimatu Ayinde let fly from outside the 18-yard area, but her effort was well wide.
The Tunisians tried to get back into the game as they started to dictate play, but the partnership of Tosin Demehin and Osinachi Ohale stood strong.
At the 33rd-minute mark, Toni Payne tried an adventurous effort from outside the area but it was well wide.
The Super Falcons continued to create chances and pile the pressure on the Carthage Eagles through chances from Rasheedat Ajibade, Deborah Abiodun and Asisat Oshoala, but Soulaima Jabrani did enough to ensure the deficit was not increased.
Three minutes into added time after the first 45, Rinsola Babajide went on a blistering run into the box, skipping past the Tunisian defenders and took her strike perfectly to beat Jabrani for her first WAFCON goal on her WAFCON debut, after which she paid tribute to the deceased Liverpool star, Diogo Jota.
The Falcons hence ended the first half with a two-goal advantage.
The Super Falcons began from where they left off in the second period, as Ashleigh Plumptre played a brilliant ball into the box, but goalkeeper Soulaima Jabrani was on hand to prevent it from creeping in.
Osinachi Ohale got on the end of a brilliant ball, but her header was saved by Jabrani once again.
Coach Madugu made the first set of changes as he took off heroines of the first period, Rinsola Babajide and Asisat Oshoala for Chiwendu Ihezuo and Christy Ucheibe.
These changes helped increase the intensity, as the Falcons revved their engines and kept going.
Christy Ucheibe played a defense-splitting pass, which the newly introduced Ihezuo got on the end of, but her strike just flashed across the goal.
73 minutes in, there was a scare for the Falcons, as Osinachi Ohale brought down the persistent Salma Zemzem, but the referee pulled play back for an initial foul on Michelle Alozie and denied the Tunisians a penalty.
It looked like all was set for a two-nil Falcons win, but the girls showed they were not done yet when Ashleigh Plumptre whipped a brilliant ball into the box, which Esther Okworonkwo helped down for Chiwendu Ihezuo, who played a brilliant strike to add the third.
The Falcons continued to dictate the game as it phased out, and coach Madugu introduced Jennifer Echegini for Halimatu Ayinde as he looked to finish off the game.
Former FC Robo striker Folashade Ijamilusi was also handed her WAFCON debut, as she replaced Toni Payne, who put in a brilliant shift.
A bright start for the Nine-time Champions, who showed their charge for a 10th WAFCON title is more than just mere words.