Super Falcons Compete In Morocco Until 2022

The Super Falcons of Nigeria qualified for the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in style on Wednesday, defeating the Lady Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire 1-0 at the Stade Robert Champroux in Abidjan in the return leg of their qualifier.

Esther Okoronkwo, in only her second cap for Nigeria, scored the game-winner with a minute to go, ensuring a 3-0 aggregate victory for the Super Falcons.

The victory and qualification for Morocco 2022 was sweet retribution for the Lady Elephants, who had beaten the Super Falcons on their way to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
The Super Falcons, who have won the trophy nine times, won the first leg 2-0 on Friday at the M.K.O Abiola National Stadium in Abuja, with both goals coming from US-based forward Ifeoma Onumonu.

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As a result, the Super Falcons won 3-0 on aggregate and will join hosts Morocco and Uganda in the 12-team finals, which will be held in Morocco from July 2 to 23, 2022.

The Ivorians gave it their all in the second leg, but were met by a tenacious Nigerian defense and an inspired goalkeeper in Chiamaka Nnadozie, who refused to give an inch.

For large swaths of the first half, the game was back and forth. Coach Randy Waldrum made two changes from the first leg’s starting lineup, bringing in midfielder Regina Otu and forward Francisca Ordega.

Halfway through the first period, the vivacious Ordega thought she had given Nigeria the lead, but the Nigerien referee ruled it out.
After determining that Ashleigh Plumptre had tripped an Ivorian striker in the Nigerian area, Nigerien referee Zouwaira Souley awarded a penalty to the hosts in the 34th minute. The shot was saved by goalkeeper Nnadozie, but contact from the same player on the rebound went into the side-netting.

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Morocco 2022 will also serve as a qualifier for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023, which will be held in Australia and New Zealand, and the Super Falcons have competed in every FIFA Women’s World Cup since 1991.
The Super Falcons have thus avenged their defeat to the Ivorians in the qualifying race for the 2020 Olympics Women’s Football tournament with the victory and qualification.