Nigeria’s Super Falcons are through to the final round of the 2024 Paris Olympic Women’s football event qualifiers following a 1-0 victory against the Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon at the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja yesterday.
Esther Okoronkwo, who started the match ahead of Asisat Oshaola, scored the only goal in the 14th minute of the encounter to send Nigeria to the final round of the qualifying series when they would most likely face Banyana Banyana of South Africa, who beat anzania 3-0 in the first leg of their own third round qualifier last week.
Jennifer Echegini, whose disallowed goal in Douala on Friday was still subject of controversy among pundits, had blazed over the sticks in the 13th minute, before Okoronkwo’s excellent effort. In the 32nd minute, Cameroon came very close from a corner kick when Menene Meyong got her head to the ball, but goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie stopped its progress to the far corner.
Ajibade and Okoronkwo had efforts blocked by Bihina, and Cameroon’s Mana Lamine blazed over the bar with two minutes left in the first period.
In the second period, Bihina kept out all efforts by Ajibade, Echegini and substitutes Akudo Ogbonna and Asisat Oshoala. On the hour mark, Cameroon thought they had equalized when Marie Ngah Manga got her head to a cross by the energetic substitute Marie Enganemben, but Nnadozie stretched full length to parry the ball out of danger.
The Lionesses finished with 10 men when the volatile Enganemben pushed Nnadozie during a bizarre rush by Cameroonian players to touch Nnadozie’s net.
Victory sets up a mouth-watering final round fixture between nine-time champions of Africa, Nigeria and reigning African champions South Africa, which will be disputed in April.