The 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations kicked off on a high note for the Super Falcons, and Ashleigh Plumptre couldn’t hide her excitement about the team’s strong start. Watching them secure a solid win against Tunisia felt like a breath of fresh air, especially given the group’s recent struggles in opening matches at this tournament.
Breaking Past Old Patterns
You see, the Super Falcons haven’t exactly had the easiest time starting off WAFCON in recent years. In their last two tournaments, opening day hasn’t gone their way — which is surprising, given their pedigree as nine-time champions. Back in 2018, when the competition was hosted by Ghana, they fell 1-0 to South Africa’s Banyana Banyana. Then in the 2022 tournament in Morocco, history almost repeated itself with the exact same result against the same opponents.
So, you can imagine the nerves and anticipation the team felt this time around. Plumptre, who currently plays for Al-Ittihad in Saudi Arabia, captured that feeling well after the game. She said something along the lines of how happy she felt and admitted there’s always a mixture of nerves and excitement at the start of any tournament.
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A Winning Start That Feels Different
This time, the Falcons did more than just edge out a win. A 3-0 scoreline isn’t just a victory; it’s a statement. Plus, keeping a clean sheet? That’s the icing on the cake. Plumptre seemed genuinely pleased, pointing out how nice it was to open with three goals and no goals conceded. It might sound simple, but for a team that’s faced some tough openers, it’s a big confidence boost.
I get the sense this win is about more than just the numbers. It feels like a reset, a chance to shake off the past and remind everyone why the Super Falcons have been top dogs in African women’s football for so long. It’s early days, of course, and nothing is guaranteed, but if this performance is anything to go by, this team might just be gearing up for something special.
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Next up for the Super Falcons is Botswana, set to take place on Thursday. It’s probably a game they have to approach carefully — sometimes when you win big in the first match, there’s a temptation to relax a bit. But with the sort of focus they showed against Tunisia, I’m curious to see if they can keep that momentum going.
I should add, there’s a little something about watching this team now — maybe it’s the mix of experience and fresh energy on the squad — that makes me think the Super Falcons aren’t just here to participate. They’re here with ambitions. And, honestly, that’s the kind of attitude that makes tournaments interesting.
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