Record nine-time champions Nigeria opened their Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) Group B campaign with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Tunisia in Casablanca on Sunday.
Goals from Asisat Oshoala, Rinsola Babajide, and Chinwendu Ihezuo sealed the win against the North Africans and ended a run of two opening-match defeats at the finals, having been beaten by South Africa in both 2018 and 2022.
Tunisia failed to score for the fifth WAFCON game in a row and created little to trouble Super Falcons goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie.
It took Nigeria only four minutes to take the lead, as a free-kick from Babajide was swung into the box and Ashleigh Plumptre’s header appeared to brush off Oshoala before going into the net.
Nigeria forward Toni Payne curled a shot from the edge of the box that lacked power and was easy for Tunisia goalkeeper Soulaima Jebrani, who had to react quicker shortly afterward to deny Deborah Abiodun.
Nigeria doubled their lead when Tunisia failed to clear their lines. Babajide picked up the ball on the edge of the box, burst into the area, and fired low into the back of the net from a tight angle.
There was a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) check for a foul by Oshoala, but referee Suavis Iratunga from Burundi stuck with her original decision to award the goal.
Plumptre had the ball in the net again with a near-post header from a corner, but this time referee Iratunga ruled that she had impeded Jebrani, and the goal was disallowed.
Nigeria nearly found a third when Halimatu Ayinde was faced with an open goal but scooped the ball over the crossbar from just three yards out.
Tunisia thought they should have had a penalty with 15 minutes remaining when Salma Zemzem was clipped in the box by Nigeria defender Osinachi Ohale. However, a VAR check ruled that Zemzem had committed a foul herself just before the contact.
Moments later, Nigeria were denied again when Esther Okoronkwo worked a shooting opportunity for herself, but her effort struck the base of the post and eluded two Super Falcons players following up.
They finally got their third when substitute Ihezuo was left unmarked and turned the ball into the net from 10 yards after it was headed into her path.
Nigeria face Botswana next on Thursday, while Tunisia will play a North African derby against Algeria.