Super Falcons Complete Double Over Cote d’Ivoire, Qualify For 2022 WAFCON

The ever presence of the Nigeria’s women’s team at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations was on Wednesday evening confirmed following the Super Falcon’s 1-0 away win over Cote d’Ivoire.

This is a follow up to an earlier 2-0 win in Abuja and thus sees the Super Falcons to the final championship in Morocco by a 3-0 aggregate.

The Super Falcons have never missed any edition and are the cup holders having won the last edition in Ghana in 2018. The 2020 edition was cancelled on account of the Coronavirus pandemic.

In addition, the Nigerians are record winners, having won nine of the 11 editions, losing only in 2008 and 2012 when Equatorial Guinea won. Even then, the Super Falcons made podium appearance in the 2008 edition,  and fourth position in 2012.

The Wednesday win over Cote d’Ivoire was a sort of revenge as the Ivorian ladies were responsible for Super Falcons not qualifying for the football event of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

On Wednesday, the Ivorians threw everything into the return leg encounter at the Stade Robert Champroux but met a steely Nigerian defence and an inspired goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie who would not give an inch.

The game flowed back and forth for large swathes of the first half. Coach Randy Waldrum made two changes to the starting line-up from the first leg, bringing in midfielder Regina Otu and forward Francisca Ordega.

The lively Ordega thought she had given Nigeria the lead halfway into the first period, but the Nigerien referee ruled it out.

In the 34^th minute, Nigerien referee Zouwaira Souley awarded a penalty to the homers after judging that Ashleigh Plumptre had tripped an Ivorian striker in the Nigerian area. Goalkeeper Nnadozie saved the shot, and the contact from the same player off the rebound went into side-netting.

The Super Falcons dug their feet into the ground in the second half, refusing to give the Lady Elephants any leeway. Plumptre, Captain Onome Ebi, Osinachi Ohale and Michelle Alozie all held their ground as the Elephants increased their onslaughts.

A minute to the end, Esther Okoronkwo, winning only her second cap for Nigeria, scored the back-breaker that confirmed a 3-0 aggregate win for the Super Falcons.