A Cynthia Aku brace and another from Zainab Olapade helped Nigeria’s women U-20 team trash their Algerian counterpart 3-0 at the semifinal of the ongoing All Africa Games, Monday afternoon.
Nigeria are through to the final of the 2019 All Africa Games after Cynthia Aku’s first half double set Nigeria on the path to victory over foes Algeria before a late Zainab Olapade strike in the dying seconds of the encounter added gloss to the final scoreline.
It is the first time the Falconets will make it to the AAG final in twelve years.
In a repeat of the semifinal clash between the Desert Foxes and Super Eagles at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, the Nigeria girls outdid their male counterparts to dump the Algerian youngsters out of the running for the gold medal.
FT: Nigeria U20W 3-0 Algeria U20W
Cynthia Aku 16'
Cynthia Aku 26'
Zainab Olapade 90'#AfricanGames2019 #SoarFalconets— The NFF 🇳🇬 (@thenff) August 26, 2019
The Falconets had earlier defeated South Africa 3-0 with goals from captain Gift Monday, Zainab Olapade and Cynthia Aku ensuring that the team began their campaign in the football event of the African Games on a high.
The team was then gifted three points and three goals for a walkover over Zambia before being held to a 1-1 draw by Cameroon.
#AfricanGames2019 | SEMIS
FT: 🇳🇬 Nigeria 3-0 Algeria 🇩🇿
A Cynthia Aku first-half brace & Zainab Olapade's last-minute goal carries favourites Nigeria to the U20w Football final, Nigeria's first final in the games since the 2007 edition. #TeamAfrique | #AfricanGames pic.twitter.com/swCHhlxaIu
— JWsports1 ⚽️ (@JWsports1) August 26, 2019
Nigeria are now guaranteed at least a silver medal in the women football competition.
The Falconets will now face the winner of the other semifinal tie between Morocco and Cameroon in the final on August 29.