Paris 2024: Set up epic showdown with Cameroon’s Lionesses

Super Falcons captain Rasheedat Ajibade mesmerizes an Ethiopian defender Tuesday at the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abuja

By Rasheed Adewuyi

A brace of goals by captain Rasheedat Ajibade and one each by Uchenna Kanu, and Asisat Oshoala saw the Super Falcons reach the third round of the African qualifiers for next year’s Women Olympic Football Tournament on a 5-1 aggregate win over Ethiopia. The nine-time African champions will next meet the Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon in the race.

A rather tepid first half saw Oshoala bungle a couple of opportunities and Uchenna Kanu miss from six yards. Kalsa Aregash also saw her shot saved by goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, and from a 20-yard free-kick, captain Loza Abera tried to slot above Nnadozie without success.

Just before referee Edoh Kindidje from Togo blew for recess, Oluwatosin Demehin sent a long ball forward and Kanu, who scored Nigeria’s first goal at the FIFA Women’s World Cup finals in the summer, easily beat two defenders by watching the bounce of the ball, and then raced to slot past goalkeeper Tarikua Bergena for Nigeria’s first goal.

Five minutes into the second period, and just about the time she netted Nigeria’s equalizer in Addis Ababa six days earlier, captain Ajibade stepped up to flash into the net for Nigeria’s second goal, a cross from Oshoala as the Barcelona Feminine forward darted past two defenders on the right.

In the 68^th minute, Oshoala turned scorer, heaving herself up to meet Kanu’s measured pull-out from the left with a close-range header that left Bergena totally helpless.

The visitors, now overwhelmed, sought to limit the damage, but it was not to be as Ajibade, lithe, sparse, and dangerous as ever, sneaked in to bundle the ball past Bergena four minutes later after another cross from Oshoala.

Spain-based Ajibade nearly got her hat-trick on the dot of time, when she flashed a shot from 27 yards that went narrowly wide.

Victory means the Super Falcons will now meet the Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon, who overturned a 2-0 defeat in Kampala to beat Uganda 3-0 after extra time in Yaoundé on Tuesday night.

Paris 2024: Nigeria Women’s team determined to overpower feisty Lucy of Ethiopia

Action at the Abebe Bikila Stadium, Ethiopia during the first leg of the double header feature that ended in 1-1 stalemate

By Rasheed Adewuyi

Nigeria’s World Cup stars say they are keen to give their very best on Tuesday evening and consign Ethiopia among the heap of historical relics in order to reach the penultimate round of qualifiers for next year’s Women’s Olympic Football Tournament in France.

Coach Justine Madugu said on Sunday that his girls were disappointed by the result in East Africa and are keen to step on the pedal at the MKO Abiola National Stadium on Wednesday evening.

“We were not too happy about the result of that first game. It’s unfortunate not to win the first leg but we are equally realistic with ourselves. We had some challenges in that game, and did our best to quickly surmount them. The girls have overcome those challenges and are really determined to make sure they are part of the Olympics next year.”

Goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, who was formidable at the FIFA Women’s World Cup in the summer and has been huge for French club Paris FC in the ongoing UEFA Women Champions League, assured that the playing body is inspired to brush aside the Ethiopian challenge and look forward to the Olympic ticket after two more rounds of the qualification series.

“Our plan was to win the first leg (in Addis Ababa), but we have taken the draw and the lessons that came from there. We are looking forward to the return match in Abuja and we will go all out for victory.”

Team captain Rasheedat Ajibade added: “The spirit in camp is excellent and we’re looking forward to victory. We will work very hard from the very first minute because we have no reason to under-rate them; they gave us a scare in the first leg. Our objective is to earn a clear win and make progress in the race.”

New-comer Rinsola Babajide, who won her first cap for Nigeria in Addis Ababa, said: “Everybody wanted more from the first game; we know we under-performed. We really should have won but the circumstances made it difficult. Now, at home and in front of our own people, we’ve got the advantage and we just need to work harder than ever before, get the goals and most importantly, win on the day.”

Ethiopia’s senior girls will be no pushovers, as the team defeated their counterparts from Chad 10-0 on aggregate in the first round to be eligible to square up to the Super Falcons. They defeated Chad 6-0 in Addis Ababa and followed up with a 4-0 lashing of their hosts in N’Djamena a few days later.

Wednesday’s encounter at the MKO Abiola National Stadium will commence at 4pm.

As Lucy’s delegation, match officials touchdown in Abuja

https://youtu.be/pYXuOXZrIB0

Ethiopia vs Nigeria – Olympics Women’s Football Qualifiers full match video

By Rasheed Adewuyi

The General Secretary of Nigeria Football Federation, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi at the weekend tasked the Super Falcons to beat on the Lucy even as their Ethiopian opponents made a touchdown in Abuja on Sunday.

Dr. Sanusi rallied the Super Falcons to ensure they worked as a team and bring their A-game to Tuesday’s 2024 Olympics second round, second leg qualifier against Ethiopia at the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.

Sanusi spoke after watching the nine-time African champions train at the Turf Arena in the Federal Capital, and also reminded players and officials that Nigeria has been absent from the past three Women Olympic Football Tournaments and this certainly does no credit to the country’s rating as a leading global power in women’s football.

“The whole world still talks about how you captivated everyone at the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand during the summer,” he said.

“The Government of Nigeria, the NFF and all stakeholders remain very proud of you. The NFF loves you and is happy with your outing and general conduct at the World Cup, on and off the field of play.

“Now, it is time to destroy this vexed issue of Olympics jinx. The last time you attended the Olympics was in 2008, in China. That was a long time ago. Missing three consecutive tournaments is enough; we have to take our place in Paris. I am happy with your game in Addis Ababa and I know you have the capacity to finish off the job here in Abuja on Tuesday.”

The Falcons trained at the Turf Arena on Friday and Saturday before moving to the MKO Abiola National Stadium on Sunday. On Monday, both the Falcons and visiting Lucy will have their official training sessions on the turf of the magnificent arena.

Captain Rasheedat Ajibade’s screaming half volley flew past the opposing goalkeeper for Nigeria’s equalizer six minutes into the second half at the Abebe Bikila Stadium on Wednesday, to restore parity after the home team bundled home from a corner kick in the sixth minute.

Ajibade, Toni Payne, Gift Monday, goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, Omorinsola Babajide, Esther Onyenezide, Oluwatosin Demehin, Peace Efih, and Michelle Alozie all looked very sharp in training, though Alozie was sometimes given time off to recover from the slight disorientation caused by a late knock to the face during the first leg.

The winner over two legs will take on the winner of the Cameroon/Uganda fixture in the third round of the series. Uganda, who narrowly eliminated Rwanda in the first round, are in the ascendancy after defeating the Indomitable Lionesses 2-0 in Kampala on Thursday.    

The delegation of Ethiopia’s senior women national team arrived in Abuja on Sunday, ahead of Tuesday’s Paris 2024 Olympics second round, second leg qualifying match against the Super Falcons.

The 35-person delegation flew into the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport just after the noon hour on Sunday aboard an Ethiopian Airways flight.

Also in Nigeria’s Federal Capital is the squad of match officials, led by Christine Ziga from Ghana, who will serve as the match commissioner.

There is also referee Edoh Kindedji from Togo, with her compatriots Abra Sitsofe Agbedanou and Kossiwa Kayigan Awoutey who will serve as assistant referee 1 and assistant referee 2 respectively. Yacine Samassa from Mauritania will be in the role of fourth official.

Daloba Oulare from Guinea will be the referee assessor.