Super Falcons Defeat Cameroon To Qualify For Olympic Qualifiers Final Round
The Super Falcons of Nigeria defeated Cameroon 1-0 to qualify for the final round of Women’s Olympic Football Tournament qualifiers at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja on Monday.
The first leg ended in Douala at the Stade de la Réunification, Douala, on Friday.
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Esther Okoronkwo scored the only goal of the encounter in the 15th minute to ensure a vital victory for the Super Falcons.
She finished superbly after Rashedat Ajibade’s effort was parried into her path by Cameroon goalkeeper, Michaely Bihina.
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 made an excellent save.
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.
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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 played in April.
