The Nigerian U20 female national football team, the Super Falconets, secured their spot in the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup with a convincing 2-0 aggregate victory over Burundi.
The Super Falconets secured the victory in the second leg of the fourth-round qualifying tie held at the MKO Abiola National Stadium.
In the intense clash, the Super Falconets replicated their 1-0 scoreline from the first leg encounter in Dar es Salaam.
The lone goal in the second leg came from the foot of Opeyemi Ajakaye, who scored in the 78th minute.
Despite numerous chances in both halves, Nigeria’s finishing was not clinical, with missed opportunities from Ajakaiye and Janet Akekoromowei.
The Super Falconets’ resilience paid off when Ajakaiye found the back of the net in the 78th minute, securing a 1-0 victory in the second leg.
Although she scored again in the 90th minute, the goal was disallowed by the referee.
This triumph makes the Super Falconets the first African side to qualify for the U20 World Cup, scheduled to take place later this year. Three more slots remain for other teams to secure their places in the tournament.
The victory continues Nigeria’s impressive record of never missing the U20 World Cup since its inception in 2002.
The next edition of the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup is slated to be held in Colombia from August 31 to September 22, 2024.
