Admin I Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023
ADDIS ABABA – The Super Falcons, led by their captain Rasheedat Ajibade, secured their place in the third round of the African qualifiers for the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament with a resounding 5-1 aggregate victory over Ethiopia. The team’s triumph was fueled by a brace from Ajibade, as well as goals from Uchenna Kanu and Asisat Oshoala.
The nine-time African champions are now set to face the Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon in their next challenge. The first half of the match saw few clear opportunities, with Oshoala missing a couple of chances, and Uchenna Kanu failing to convert from six yards out. Ethiopia’s Kalsa Aregash also had her shot saved by the vigilant Nigerian goalkeeper, Chiamaka Nnadozie. In a promising free-kick attempt from 20 yards, Ethiopia’s captain Loza Abera tried to find the net but was unsuccessful.
Just before the halftime whistle by referee Edoh Kindidje from Togo, Oluwatosin Demehin sent a long ball forward, and Kanu, who had previously scored Nigeria’s first goal at the FIFA Women’s World Cup, skillfully evaded two defenders to slot the ball past Ethiopia’s goalkeeper Tarikua Bergena, opening the scoring for Nigeria.
Early in the second half, captain Ajibade, who had previously scored Nigeria’s equalizer in Addis Ababa a week ago, made her mark by netting Nigeria’s second goal. She capitalized on a precise cross from Oshoala, who brilliantly maneuvered past two defenders on the right.
In the 68th minute, Oshoala turned from creator to scorer, rising to meet Kanu’s well-placed cross from the left with a close-range header that left Bergena with no chance.
Despite the visitors’ efforts to limit the damage, Ajibade, agile and dangerous as ever, sneaked in to bundle the ball past Bergena just four minutes later, following yet another superb cross from Oshoala.
In the dying moments of the match, Spain-based Ajibade came close to securing her hat-trick with a powerful shot from 27 yards that narrowly missed the target.
With this victory, the Super Falcons have earned the opportunity to face the Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon, who managed a remarkable comeback, overturning a 2-0 deficit to defeat Uganda 3-0 after extra time in Yaounde on Tuesday night.
