….HOLD BOTH MALE AND FEMALE TITLE FOR FIRST TIME IN HISTORY

Nigeria’s female national team (labelled the Super Falcons) made history last night, becoming the first country to hold both male and female African Cup titles at the same time.

In the final of the African Women’s Championships that had been ongoing in Namibia, the Nigerian women beat their Cameroonian counterparts 2-0 in an enthralling match that showcased the rising standard of women’s football in Africa.

The two headliners at the tournament - striker Desire Oparanozie and youngster Asisat Oshoala - scored one each as the Nigerians notched up their seventh African title in nine attempts.

Both Nigeria and Cameroon automatically qualified for the FIFA Women’s World Cup scheduled to hold in Canada in summer 2015. They will be joined by Cote d’Ivoire, which beat South Africa 1-0 in the third place match earlier in the day.

President of FIFA and member of African Football Hall of Fame Sepp Blatter had enthused about the quality of play at the competition, while congratulating Nigeria for being the first nation to secure qualification for the Women’s World Cup on Wednesday, something that must have spurred the Falcons to perform in the final.

Asisat Oshoala, a 20 year old, is fast becoming the rave of female football as she scooped the tournament’s Most Valuable Player award, repeating the feat that she achieved in the FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup in August, winning the same award.