The Nigerian Super Hawks hosted the 3rd African Women’s Championship on home soil and it was a campaign that brought out the best in a group of ruthless young girls who were keen to impress at home.

The team was a combination of youth and experience, as it was built around Goal-entrepreneur Anna Chiejine, Kikelemo Ajayi, Stella Mbachu, Nkiru Okosieme and Florence Omagbemi. It was a team that had the best defense, midfield and attack.

The Super Falcons were drawn up in Group A along with North African sides Morocco and Egypt, with the Democratic Republic of the Congo making up the four-team group. The group stage matches were scheduled for October 17, 1998 and it was a hail of goals for the reigning African champions.

In their first game played against Morocco’s Atlas Lioness, the reigning African champions were absolutely ruthless in front of goal, scoring eight goals over the hapless Moroccans. The match ultimately ended with an 8-0 margin, sending warning signals to all other opponents of their intent to retain the coveted trophy.

Their second match of the group stage was against DR Congo and the goal fest continued as the Congolese thrashed 6-0 in a one-sided encounter that sent the fans into hysterics.

The final game of the group stage was played on October 23, 1998 against the Egyptian women’s national team and the goals kept pouring in as the Super Falcons showed why they are the reigning champions with a comprehensive 6-0 scoreline at the end of normal time. The win paved the way for a semi-final berth against Cameroon’s Indomitable Lioness on 27 October 1998 and the Super Falcons proved the bookies right with an incredible 6-goal thriller against the experienced Cameroonians.

The stage for the final match was set when Nigeria had to take on the Black Queens of Ghana in a delightful match that brought out the best in women’s football. When the dust finally settled at the end of 90 minutes of thrilling football, it was Nigeria who won the day with a 2-0 win over the relentless Ghanaians.

The excitement of a third successive African Women’s Championship was in the air and the fans had plenty to celebrate with the Super Falcons scoring a record 28 goals without conceding. It was a feat that has never been surpassed in African women’s football to date.