November 01, (THEWILL) – After a lacklustre start, Nigeria’s Super Falcons rallied impressively to keep their Olympics dreams alive. The best female African team were held to a disappointing 1-1 draw by Ethiopia in the first leg of their qualifier last week. However, they responded emphatically with a commanding 4-0 thrashing in the second leg on Tuesday, to advance 5-1 on aggregate.
The initial away draw in Addis Ababa was a shock result against opponents ranked 92 places lower in FIFA’s rankings. Nigeria struggled to break down Ethiopia’s stubborn defence and fell behind to an early goal. Captain Rasheedat Ajibade eventually equalised with a stunning long-range strike. Still, the Super Falcons failed to capitalise on their superiority, with stars like Asisat Oshoala having off days.
Questions were raised about Nigeria’s lack of creativity, poor midfield structure and shaky defence after the first leg. Back home for the second leg, however, the team showed their true quality and silenced the naysayers. Oshoala made amends with a textbook header, while Ajibade netted a brace after combining well with the star striker. Uchenna Kanu also got on the scoresheet just before half-time to give Nigeria control of the tie.
The commanding 4-0 scoreline highlighted the Super Falcons’ attacking potential when firing on all cylinders. After initial first-leg struggles, the experienced players stepped up when it mattered most. Oshoala shook off her earlier profligacy to lead Nigeria’s charge with a goal and two assists. Ajibade again showed her versatility and leadership in the transition from midfield to attack with her brace. Plus, the previously vulnerable defence kept a clean sheet to make amends for the first leg.
Coach Randy Waldrum will be delighted with the response of his charges to the earlier criticism. Concerns about off-field distractions over unpaid bonuses were put aside. In addition, the home crowd’s passionate support further lifted the Super Falcons.
Nigeria showed their champion mentality by overcoming adversity. The dominant second-leg win puts them back on track for Olympics qualification after the initial setback. Next, they will face their arch-West African rivals, the Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon, in the penultimate qualifying round.
Cameroon overcame Uganda in their earlier qualifying matchup. So the regional heavyweights will clash for a spot in the final qualification stage. With a matchup between Africa’s well-ranked teams, it promises to be a tough test for Nigeria.
Yet, the Super Falcons will head into the tie full of confidence after proving their quality against Ethiopia. The second-leg win showcased their attacking talents hitting peak form at the right time. With stars like Oshoala, Ajibade and Kanu on song, Nigeria remains Africa’s best hope for women’s football glory at the 2024 Paris Olympics. A maiden gold medal is within reach if they can replicate the champion spirit shown in overcoming adversity on the road to qualification.
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.
