Super Falcons Qualify for Women Africa Cup of Nations

The Falcons celebrate Women AFCON qualification at the Agege Stadium on Monday.

From Dianabasi Effiong

Oparanozie started early, blasting past goalkeeper Aminata Gaye from the spot in the second minute after Francisca Ordega was upended in the box by Nenneh Jallow.

Former U17 team star Amarachi Okoronkwo, who scored the only goal of the first leg in Bakau on Wednesday with a long range strike, tried to recreate same on the half-hour, but her effort saw the ball kiss the upright and bounce to safety.

The visitors strung passes together brilliantly in the midfield but could not get past the experienced Nigerian rear wall of Faith Michael, Ngozi Ebere, Osinachi Ohale and Skipper Onome Ebi.

Oparanozie knocked in her second and Nigeria’s third in the 48^th minute, and although Penda Bah, Adama Tamba, Isatou Jallow Mam Drammeh and substitute Clarra Gomez tried to fashion a different approach, the 2016 Women AFCON final goalscorer hit the fourth for the Falcons in the 62^nd minute to take the winds off the Gambians’ sail.

Substitute Halimatu Ayinde failed to connect with the net gaping after a brilliant Ordega pull-out in the 72^nd minute, but Oshoala quickly made amends for that and several other misses with a captivating solo run and strike two minutes later.

With six minutes left, Oparanozie rifled into the far corner after her initial effort was blocked, to make it 6-0.

The Falcons thus join Equatorial Guinea, Mali, Zambia, South Africa, Algeria and Cameroon (who qualified in previous days) at the finals slated for later this year.