Super Falcons soar to next round of Paris Olympics 2024 qualifiers with convincing win over Ethiopia

Posted : 01 November 2023

The Super Falcons of Nigeria secured a well-deserved ticket to the next round of the 2024 Paris Olympics women's football event with a convincing 4-0 victory over Ethiopia's Lucy Babes in Abuja on Tuesday.

In the return match held at the MKO Abiola Stadium, key figures like the Minister of Sports, Sen. John Owan-Enoh, and other dignitaries from the sports ministry, as well as the President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), were in attendance. The Nigerian women outperformed their Ethiopian counterparts, following a 1-1 draw in the first leg.

The Super Falcons delivered a spectacular performance to reach the third round of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games qualifiers.

Stand-in captain and Atletico Madrid Feminine forward, Rasheedat Ajibade, earned the "Man of the Match" accolade with a brace. Nigeria's most successful female football star and Barcelona FC striker, Asisat Oshoala, a 2023 Ballon d'Or nominee, made an impressive contribution with two assists.

Uchenna Kanu opened the scoring in the 43rd minute, skillfully beating three Ethiopian players, including the goalkeeper, after receiving a long pass from the center.

Despite spirited resistance from Lucy Babes, especially against Ballon d'Or target Asisat Oshoala, who struggled to find the target in the first half, the Super Falcons surged ahead. Oshoala, nicknamed 'Agba Baller,' orchestrated the second goal in the 50th minute with a connection to stand-in captain Rasheedat Ajibade.

Later, Uchenna Kanu provided an assist to Oshoala, who headed in Nigeria's third goal in the 68th minute. The Super Falcons continued to exert pressure on the Ethiopians, and Ajibade completed her brace to secure Nigeria's fourth goal. The aggregate score stood at 5-1 in favor of Nigeria.

Notably, Nigeria was without coach Waldrum, who oversaw the 1-1 draw with Ethiopia on October 25th. The coach had taken permission to attend to his sick wife, leaving his Nigerian assistants in charge. Unfortunately, Waldrum's contract expired on Tuesday, October 31st, with no word on a contract extension for the tactician.

This victory ends a 15-year absence from the Olympic Games for the Super Falcons. In previous encounters with Ethiopia, Nigeria had met them thrice, winning two matches and drawing one. The Nigerian team defeated Ethiopia 3-0 in an AFCON game on November 1, 2012, and played to a 1-1 draw last Thursday, ultimately securing their progress to the next stage with a 5-1 aggregate score.

In another Olympic qualifier, the Bayana Bayana of South Africa defeated the Lady Elephants of Ivory Coast 2-0 in Johannesburg.

Super Falcons soar to next round of Paris Olympics 2024 qualifiers with convincing win over Ethiopia

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