National Teams
2024 WAFCONQ: Cape Verde inch closer to Nigeria date after first leg win over Liberia
By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde
Cape Verde are on the brink of sealing a second round duel with Nigeria after a 3-0 win over Liberia in the first leg of the first round in the 2024 Women’s African Cup of Nations (WAFCON) qualifiers on Friday.
Two goals from Ivania Moreira at home gave the hosts an advantage ahead of the return leg.
The first goal came in the 15th minute before Evy Pereira doubled the lead for the Island country in the 53rd minute.
In the additional minutes of the second half, Moreira scored her second goal of the match to seal a 3-0 win.
Liberia has a daunting task to overturn a three-goal deficit in the return leg.
A favourable result for Cape Verde will set up a second-round clash with the Super Falcons in November this year.
The first round winner will still have to negotiate past Nigeria to qualify for next year’s WAFCON.
Nine-time African champions qualified for the second round without kicking a ball after Sao Tome and Principe withdrew from the qualifying series.
Nigeria has won nine out of the last 12 editions of the WAFCON and are favourite to make it to the tournament taking place in Morocco next year after a gallant Round of 16 finish at the FIFA Women’s World Cup this sumemr.
