Rasheedat Ajibade netted two goals, while Uchenna Kanu and Asisat Oshoala each contributed one as Nigeria’s Super Falcons secured a convincing 4-0 victory over Ethiopia in the second-round qualifiers of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on Tuesday, October 31, in Abuja.
With this triumph, the Falcons secured a place in the third round with a 5-1 aggregate scoreline, following a 1-1 draw in the first leg in Addis Ababa last week. The first half saw stout defensive work from the Falcons, but just before halftime, Kanu received a long pass, skillfully maneuvered past her markers inside the box, and coolly slotted the ball into the net, breaking the deadlock in the first minute of added time.
The second half saw Ajibade extend the lead to 2-0 in the 50th minute, capitalizing on a precise low cross from Oshoala from the right. Oshoala herself got on the scoresheet in the 68th minute with a beautifully executed header from Kanu’s cross. The match was sealed in the 72nd minute when Oshoala added her second assist, setting up Ajibade for her second goal of the game, making it 4-0 in favor of the Falcons.
The Super Falcons are now set to face the winner of the match between Uganda and Cameroon in the third round of qualifiers. Notably, their last appearance at the Olympics was in Beijing 2008.