The Nigerian female national team, Super Falcons, has ended the 16 years olympic jinx after the team qualified for the 2024 edition in Paris, France, following their 1-0 aggregate win against the South African team.
It secured the qualification, picking one of the two slots seeded to Africa for the games, after playing a goalless draw with their opponent during the second leg of their final round of qualifiers.
The qualification round was settled following Rasheedat Ajibade’s 43rd-minute penalty in the first leg which proved historic as the Falcons could increased their tally against their opponent durimng the game played inside the Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Tuesday.
During the game played before a crowded stadium, the team’s coach, Randy Waldrum, kept faith in the same line-up that clinched the vital home win on Friday despite appeals from many football lovers for a change.
The Falcons dominated the match in the early stages. They held on to the ball, with the South African attack barely troubling Nigeria’s makeshift centre-back pairing of Christy Ucheibe and Osinachi Ohale.
Chiwendu Ihezuo was handed an opportunity, but her header off a Deborah Abiodun cross trailed wide, allowing the game end goalless with a cagey battle in the midfield, with chances few for both teams.
Chimaka Nnadozie was a domineering presence in the air as she mopped up the South Africans’ crosses before they escalated into danger for Nigeria while her colleagues provided the required cover to ensure the game remain in their favour.
Nigeria held on for a vital draw and secured a berth to represent Africa in Paris later this year, increasing their qualification for the games to four after representing the continent in 2000, 2004 and 2008.
The 2024 Olympics is billed to take place in Paris, France, from July 26 to August 11, 2024.
