By Emmanuel Okogba

The Super Falcons of Nigeria scored late to win 1-0 and book their place at this year’s Africa Women Cup of Nations in Morocco.

Following the victory in Abuja last Friday, the Super Falcons stunned the Ivorians with an 88th minute strike at the Stade Robert Champroux in Abidjan to win 3-o on aggregate, thanks to resolute defending and goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie keeping out a spot kick.

Esther Okoronkwo’s goal took the steam out of the Ivorians who were beginning to force the Super Falcons into committing fouls and getting booked with their search for goals.

ALSO READ: Super Falcons striker Ordega quits Levante, joins CSKA Moscow

Despite having a goal disallowed, Randy Waldrum’s charges held their own to qualify for a chance to defend the title they won in 2018.

With Asisat Oshoala out with injury, the task of finding the goals, as it was in the first leg, fell on the shoulders of Esther Okoronkwo and Ifeoma Onumonu who bagged a brace when they met in Abuja, but this time around, it was Okoronkwo who took the initiative to condemn the Ivorians to a loss that keeps them waiting for a return to the competition. Their last appearance was in 2014.

This year’s edition will feature 12 teams.

Teams that have qualified are:

• Morocco (Host)
• Nigeria
• Cameroon
• Uganda
• Burundi
• Senegal
• Togo
• Zambia
• Tunisia
• Burkina Faso
• Botswana
• South Africa or Algeria

Vanguard News Nigeria