Despite being held to a 1-1 draw by the Benin Republic in Abeokuta on Tuesday, 10-time African champions, Nigeria, qualified for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco thanks to a 3-1 aggregate win, The PUNCH reports.
Defender Ashley Plumptre opened the scoring with her first goal for Nigeria in the 13th minute, but it didn’t set the tone for a whitewash as Yasminath Djibril levelled matters in the second half.
The Super Falcons had secured a 2-0 win during the first leg in Lome, Togo, last Friday, and it was enough cushion for them after the visitors fought for a point in Abeokuta.
Playing at home since their 10th WAFCON triumph, the Falcons were greeted by a packed stadium in the Ogun State capital, where they had also finalised their preparations for the 2024 WAFCON triumph.
The Amazons turned out to be credible fighters against the African champions, as they approached the game with vigour, passion, and vibrancy, with the pacy and nimble-footed Dossi Germaine Honfo and Yenido Romaine Gandonou the lead orchestrators.
However, the Super Falcons were calm, collected and confident, forcing the Amazons to clear their lines after Captain Rasheedat Ajibade freed Asisat Oshoala as the Falcons surged forward in the 8th minute.
Five minutes later, Nigeria took the lead when defender Plumptre nodded firmly into the net from a corner by Esther Okoronkwo.
In the 23rd minute, Oshoala’s firm header from another Okoronkwo corner missed narrowly, and in the 34th minute, Michelle Alozie’s header was a little above the crossbar from Oshoala’s cross.
There was still time for Okoronkwo to side-net from a free-kick with four minutes left in the first period.
After the restart, the Amazons began to pour forward, calling goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie into action in the 56th minute when she saved from Gandonou, and then had to stretch full length to push away a shot from 25 yards by Yolande Gnammi two minutes later.
The game turned into a real contest on the hour mark when Djibril struck the ball high and above Nnadozie into the net from a free-kick on the left, for the equalizer.
Nigeria had opportunities to increase the tally, with Folashade Ijamilusi missing from close range after goalkeeper Sourakatou Alassane uncharacteristically dropped the ball, and Alassane saved from Ajibade in the 77th minute.
Substitute Joy Omewa and Ijamilusi combined in the 90th minute, but Alassane was up to the task.
Qualification means Nigeria have the opportunity to not only defend their title in Morocco next year, but also aim for an 11th title in 14 championships, as well as a ticket to the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup finals in Brazil.
