AWCON 2022 qualifier: Kanu brace shoots Super Falcons past Black Queens

The Sweden-based forward was the hero for the record continental champions as the Ghanaian ladies were outclassed in Lagos on Wednesday evening

Uchenna Kanu struck a first-half brace to help the Super Falcons gain a 2-0 advantage over Ghana's Black Queens in the first leg of their 2022 African Women Cup of Nations qualifier at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena on Wednesday.

Kanu headed the reigning African champions in front in the 21st minute off a Francisca Ordega cross. Another nodded effort off a 27th-minute corner from the Linkopings FC striker, then doubled the Super Falcons' lead in the clash.

Hard as they try in the second half, the coach Randy Waldrum-tutored ladies could not add to the tally as the Ghanaians delivered a more composed showing after the break.

The bitter West African rivals face off in the return leg on Sunday in Accra for a chance to participate at the 2022 Awcon in Morocco.

The continental championship also serves as the qualifying campaign for the next edition of the FIFA Women's World Cup.

Nigeria have never missed out on any edition of the Awcon and the World since their inception in 1991, winning the Awcon a record nine times.

The Black Queens, however, failed to qualify for the 2012 competition staged in Equatorial Guinea and could get kicked out of the running for next year's showpiece unless they beat the Super Falcons by three goals in the second leg in Accra.