THE Super Falcons of Nigeria have advanced to the final qualifying round for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games women’s football event after a 1-0 victory over Cameroon in Abuja today.
The nine-time African champions progressed 1-0 on aggregate as the first leg of the tie in Douala on Friday ended 0-0.
Esther Okoronkwo scored the only goal today to send Randy Waldrum’s side through past their bitter rivals.
The UD Tenerife striker struck in the 14th minute, firing home from Jennifer Echegini’s pass.
Both Okoronkwo and Echegini had been handed surprise starts by Waldrum in place of six-time African Women’s Player of the Year Asisat Oshoala and Halimatu Ayinde, who were both in the XI in Douala.
Apart from those two changes, the line-up from Douala was retained, with African Goalkeeper of the Year Chiamaka Nnadozie in goal behind Michelle Alozie, Ashleigh Plumptre, Osinachi Ohale and Tosin Demehin.
Echegini was in midfield with Christy Ucheibe and Esther Abiodun, while Okoronkwo spearheaded the forward line with support from captain Rasheedat Ajibade and Toni Payne.
Oshoala and Uchenna Kanu replaced Okoronkwo and Payne on the hour mark as the Super Falcons sought to extend their advantage, but the one goal proved to be enough.
The Super Falcons will face either African champions South Africa or Tanzania in the final qualifying round, with the winners over two legs securing one of the continent’s two Olympic Games tickets.
South Africa are on course to eliminating Tanzania at the end of tomorrow’s second leg having won the first leg 3-0 in Dar es Salaam last week.
