Nigeria on Monday at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja moved a step closer to Paris 2024 Olympic Games qualification after beating visiting Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon by a lone goal.
Esther Okoronkwo scored the only goal of the match in the 14th minute after dribbling past the Cameroonian defence before slotting the ball past Bihina Michaely in goal for the visitors.
It was a match the Super Falcons should have put to swords but were wasteful as Rasheedat Ajibade, Esther Okoronkwo and Echegini Jennifer all missed glaring chances in the 37, 38 and 44 minutes respectively in what could have been harvest goals for nine-time African champions.
A mild drama however ensued at the resumption of hostilities in the second half when a Cameroonian player, Lamine Mana, approached the Nigerian goal area but was stopped by Chiamaka Nnadozie before the centre referee intervened and brought the situation under control.
It was an anticlimax for the Lionesses in the 90th minute when number 14 jersey, Enganembem Annie, was given a straight red card by the centre referee for pushing Nnadozie to the ground.
Speaking at the post-match conference, Super Falcons coach, Randy Waldrum, praised his girls for their brave performance. He said the match was an easy one but added that the players played according to instructions and did what needed to be done. He however said he would have preferred if the game had been played in the night as the weather affected the performance of his girls.
“It was a physical game. It’s not the way we wanted to play but we gave our best. It was not an easy game. We had to bring in some players to make up for tired players and we did what we needed to do. It was a nervy game for us. The weather is obviously hot for the players. I would prefer that we play night games. We have to preview whoever we are going to play against.”
Deborah Abiodun, who anchored the midfield for the Falcons said the players will not underrate any team they will square up against in the last game of the qualifiers.
Nigeria will play the winner of the game between South Africa and Tanzania. The game will be played today as the South Africans have a three-goal lead against the Tanzanians.