The former African champions are the only team to qualify for each competition of the continental championship and reach the final four
Nigeria’s Super Falcons defeated Cape Verde 2-1 on the night, 7-1 on aggregate, to qualify for the 2024 CAF Africa Women’s Cup of Nations, Soccernet.ng reports.
On Thursday, November 30th, the teams met at the Abuja National Stadium in the first leg of the second round qualifiers, with the Falcons scoring a comfortable 5-0 victory over the Cape Verdeans.
However, goals from Rashidat Ajibade and Esther Okoronkwo helped Nigeria overturn a 1-0 deficit to secure a 2-1 victory in Praia.
How it happened
The nine-time African champion was the favorite to secure his second win in six days against the same opponent in the return leg today (Tuesday) at the Estadio Nacional de Cape Verde in Praia.
However, the game was not easy for Nigeria as Cape Verde took the lead in the 9th minute with a goal from Ivania Tavares Moreira.
The Falcons had several scoring chances, but were unable to tie the score before the referee blew the halftime whistle.
Nigeria’s dominance was rewarded soon after the opening hour, however, as substitute Esther Okoronkwo scored the equalizer for the Super Falcons with a fine finish.
Rinsola Babajide, Toni Payne and Okoronkwo missed several chances to give Nigeria the lead.
However, Atletico Madrid’s attacking midfielder Ajibade scored the winning goal late in stoppage time, sealing Nigeria’s 100 percent record against Cape Verde.
Teams that have qualified for Morocco 2024
As a result of the match, Nigeria became the last country to qualify for next year’s WAFCON.
Morocco is guaranteed to participate as the host nation, while South Africa and Algeria secured their spots by defeating Burkina Faso and Burundi in the second round, respectively.
Ghana also lost 1-0 in Namibia, but the Black Queens qualified for WAFCON with a 3-1 win in the first leg last week.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo upset former champions Equatorial Guinea 3-2 on aggregate to advance to the final.
Tunisia are also on the upswing, having held Congo to a 1-1 draw on Tuesday, making their 5-2 win in the first leg even more significant.
Togo defeated Tanzania 2-0 at the Stade de Kege in Lomé, but lost 2-3 on aggregate and will not participate in WAFCON.
Zambia beat Angola 6-0 in the first leg and 6-0 in the second leg, outscoring their opponents 12-0 on aggregate.
Senegal also eliminated Egypt from WAFCON after backing up a 4-0 victory with a goalless draw in Cairo last week.
