The Super Falcons defeated Cape Verde 2-1 on Tuesday at the Estádio Nacional de Cabo Verde in Praia, securing a spot in the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) for the following year.
In their rematch last Thursday at Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja, the Nigerian team had been merciless. won a decisive 5-0 triumph thanks to a brace from Uchenna Kanu, with Gift Monday capping the scoring.
Star attacker Asisat Oshoala and defender Ashleigh Plumptre were still absent for Justin Madugu’s team, who was aiming for a repeat performance.
Ivania Moreira of Racing Power scored the first goal of the game in the eighth minute to signal the hosts’ intentions, but they had other ideas.
The Cape Verdeans were determined to hold onto their one goal advantage at halftime despite the Super Falcons’ best efforts to equalise.
The Nigerian assault continued in the second half as Madugu substituted Okoronkwo for Kanu. The forward for UD Tenerife believed she had given the away team the equaliser, but her goal in the 55th minute was ruled offside.
In order to preserve the five-goal aggregate total, the 26-year-old would have to wait seven minutes to score her most desired goal with a solo finish.
Okoronkwo was causing trouble for the Cape Verde defenders and had a near-assist when she set up Toni Payne, but Payne was unable to beat Jacinta Rodrigues, the opposition custodian.
Rasheedat Ajibade, the acting captain, also had a chance to put the Falcons ahead, but her shot missed the post by a few inches.
To maintain a tie in the score, Rodrigues was kept busy by players like Payne and Okoronkwo.
Ajibade would ultimately provide the Super Falcons with the game-winning play in the ninetieth minute.
