Asisat Oshoala ended her four-match goal drought in the Africa Women Cup of Nations with a hat-trick in Nigeria's 6-0 win over Equatorial Guinea at the Cape Coast Sports Stadium.
The 24-year-old, who last scored in the Super Falcons' 4-0 win over Kenya at the 2016 edition, made her third appearance in this year's tournament against Nzalang Nacional.
She scored all her three goals in the first half of Saturday's encounter and she has attributed her scoring breakthrough to the support of her teammates.
"It was a very good feeling to get three points for the team which is the most important thing," Oshoala told media.
"I am happy to be on the scoresheet - scoring my first goal of the tournament so far, and starting with three goals.
"I am grateful for my teammates for all the work everyone put in and determination, even after losing to South Africa in Cape Coast, we didn't give up.
"We just told ourselves that we need to show that we are champions. We actually improved and, so today, it was a good outing.
"Getting the goals [on Saturday] with confidence comes with a lot of teammates and not just me.
"Great performance from myself and taking responsibility and my teammates scoring goals as well.
"Everyone now have confidence in the strikers in the team because in our last two games, difference strikers scoring goals.
"We don't have to depend only on Oshoala in the team because we have Desire Oparanozie, Francisca Ordega, Rasheedat Ajibade in the team. So, we have confidence in each other."
.jpg?auto=webp&format=pjpg&width=640&quality=60)
.jpg?auto=webp&format=pjpg&width=640&quality=60)