AWCON 2022: No Oshoala no problem, as Nnadozie pulls up heroics to secure AWCON 2022 ticket for Nigeria

The Super Falcons’ inspirational captain was unavailable, but the other ladies did the job for Nigeria as they qualified for the showpiece scheduled for later this year

The Super Falcons of Nigeria have sealed their qualification to the Africa Women’s Cup of Nations after they beat the Lady Elephants of Ivory Coast 1-0 in Abidjan to secure a 3-0 aggregate victory.

The Super Falcons travelled to Abidjan for the second leg of their crucial AWCON 2022 tie against the Ivory Coast.

Nigeria had the upper hand going into the tie as a brace from Ifeoma Onumonu had already given them a two-goal advantage from the first leg.

The eleven-time Champions were missing their inspirational captain and marksman, Asisat Oshoala, but they put up a solid performance.

The match was pretty drab from the start, but the Lady Elephants looked hungrier. Ivory Coast could have scored in the first half from the penalty spot, but a piece of brilliant goalkeeping from Nnadozie kept Nigeria in the game.

The Lady Elephants kept up with their pressure in the second half, but Nigeria held their own, as even a draw was enough to see them through.

However, Esther Okoronkwo broke the deadlock in the 88th minute as she fired a strike which gave Nigeria a 1-0 lead.

The Super Falcons held on for the dying embers of the game to secure a 1-0 victory in Abidjan.

The tie ended 3-0 on aggregate, and it gives Nigeria the ticket for the upcoming AWCON scheduled for July this year in Morocco.