Desire Oparanozie scored twice as the Super Falcons of Nigeria kicked off their campaign at the 2014 African Women’s Championship with a 4-2 win over Cote D’Iviore this evening.

In the dramatic Group A encounter in Windhoek, Esther Sunday gave Nigeria a 12th minute lead, benefitting from good work by Ngozi Okobi but the Ivorians were back on level terms 10 minutes later through Fatou Coulibaly’s penalty.

Nigeria gained control of the encounter in the second half and duly went back in front 10 minutes into the half courtesy of an own goal by Mariam Diakite.

Oparanozie then made it 3-1 for Nigeria midway through the second half, getting on to a ball in from Esther Sunday to guide the ball past the Ivorian goalkeeper.

Cote D’Ivoire however pulled a goal back moments later through Christine Lohoues Yeble who latched on to a loose ball to score and set up a dramatic end to the encounter.

The six-time African champions would however have the last laugh in the match three minutes from time, when a ball in from Asisat Oshoala was turned in by Oparanozie for her second of the evening.

The win puts Nigeria top of the group ahead of host nation Namibia, which kicked off the competition with a 2-0 win over Zambia earlier this evening.

Nigeria will next face Zambia on Tuesday, knowing a win in the encounter would seal qualification to the semi-final and put the Falcons in strong contention to pick one of three spots for Africa at next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup in Canada.