The Nigeria national U20 women's national team failed to outwit the East Africans but will look to finish the job on home soil next week
Tanzania's U20 girls held Nigeria's Falconets to a 1-1 draw in the first leg of their 2024 FIFA U20 Women's World Cup African qualifying series third-round fixture at the Azam Sports Complex in Dar es Salaam, Soccernet.ng reports.
The opening half saw both teams grappling for dominance but failing to break the deadlock.
However, the game exploded into action three minutes before the hour mark. Enter substitute Chioma Olise, who fired Nigeria into the lead, after good work from the right flank to send shockwaves through the home crowd.
However, Tanzania's response was swift and decisive. Asnath Ubamba leveled the playing field 13 minutes later with a precision free kick that left Nigeria's goalkeeper Anderlin Mgebchi helpless.
Despite both teams fiercely battling for supremacy on the artificial turf towards the end of the encounter, the scoreline held steady at 1-1.
The Falconets now face a return to Nigeria with high expectations, gearing up for a decisive clash with the Tanzanians in the second leg on Sunday, 19th November.
Nigeria reached the third round of the World Cup qualifying after Mauritius withdrew in the previous round.
The aggregate winner of the tie between Tanzania and Nigeria will meet the victor of the clash between Congo DR and Burundi in the fourth round.
The Falconets are aiming to qualify for the expanded 2024 FIFA U20 Women's World Cup final competition set to unfold in Colombia next year. The tournament will see 24 finalists, a notable increase from the 16 that competed in Costa Rica.
