March 27, (THEWILL) – Nigeria’s Under-20 female team, the Super Falconets, have qualified for the Under-20 World Cup in Costa Rica billed for later this year.
The Falconets defeated Senegal 4-1 at the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium in Benin City, ensuring a 7-2 aggregate victory.
Flourish Sebastian’s hattrick ensured that the youngsters had done half of the job when they beat Senegal 3-1 on the road two weeks ago. Despite this, they attacked the second leg with a sense of urgency.
From the first whistle, the Super Falconets controlled the game, and they had a chance to take the lead in the fifth minute, but the goal was disallowed because the referee noticed an infringement in the Senegalese box.
Nigeria scored one that counted barely two minutes later. Sebastian maintained her goal-scoring form by opening the scoring for the Falconets.
The Senegalese girls gave it their all, but the Falconets were too strong for them. Sebastian scored her fifth goal over the two legs in the 20th minute, heading in a cross from Esther Onyenezide to double their lead.
Onyenezide added to the misery of the Senegalese five minutes later, converting a penalty kick to make it 3-0. Senegal finally found the net just before half-time so that the teams went into the interval at 3-1.
In the second half, Nigeria seemed to ease the pressure, but the Senegalese were still unable to take advantage.
The qualification of the Falconets was sealed in the 89th minute, when substitute Joy Jerry scored Nigeria’s fourth goal
The Super Falconets’ 7-2 aggregate victory assures their participation in the U-20 World Cup, which will be held in Costa Rica in August this year.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
