Colombia 2024: Nigeria 1-0 Burundi (2-0 agg.)- Esther Ajakaye sends Falconets to FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup

The Falconets have maintained their stunning record of qualifying for every edition of the World Cup since its inception

The Nigerian U20 national women’s team has qualified for the 2024 FIFA U20 World Cup, Soccernet.ng reports.

The Falconets defeated Burundi’s U20 2-0 on Saturday afternoon in the second leg of their fourth-round qualifier to clinch a 2-0 aggregate win over the Central Africans.

Teen forward Janet Aikekoromowei netted the only goal from the penalty spot for Nigeria in their first-leg victory at the Azam Complex Stadium in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, last weekend.

In the return leg played at the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja on Saturday, the Falconets found the Burundi girls a stubborn nut to crack.

However, after a closely fought battle, Nigeria broke the deadlock in the 79th minute when substitute Mary Lucky Mkpa set up Ajakaye to fire past Burundi’s goalkeeper into the net.

With this latest win, Nigeria become the first African team to qualify for the 2024 Women’s World Cup in Colombia.

On the road to qualification, Nigeria were not drawn for the first round before the Falconets enjoyed a walkover over Mauritius in the second round.

In the third round, the Falconets clinched a 3-2 aggregate victory over Tanzania, who battered Djibouti 12-0 in the previous round, to set up the date with Burundi in the fourth round.

Cameroon, Ghana, and Morocco secured an advantage over Egypt, Senegal, and Ethiopia in their respective first-leg fixture and will join Nigeria at the Mundial should they avoid defeats in the return legs.