26th February, 2024
By Kazeem Ugbodaga
The Super Falcons of Nigeria defeated the Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon by a lone goal in the second leg of their Olympic qualifier in Abuja on Monday.
The first leg had ended goalless in Yaoundé, Cameroon last week. The Falcons thus qualified for the next round by 1-0 aggregate.
Esther Okoronkwo’s 14th minute strike gave the Nigerian women the victory and moved to the fourth round of the CAF Women’s Olympic qualifier where they will face the winner between South Africa and Tanzania in April.
At the match played at the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja, Okoronkwo broke the deadlock to hand the Falcons an early lead from a goalmouth scramble off Jennifer Echegini’s assist.
Echegini almost doubled the lead for Nigeria but the Cameroonian goalkeeper denied her from close range in the 31st minute.
In the 37th minute, Rasheedat Ajibade thought she had slotted in the second goal but got stopped by the Cameroonian goalkeeper’s point-blank save.
Two minutes later, Ashleigh Plumptre set up Okoronkwo with a long pass but the latter blasted the ball over the bar from close range.
In the 86th minute, Aboudi Onguene headed the ball from close range but goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie denied her.
One minute into added time, Cameroon’s Enganemben Annie got sent off for unsporting conduct.