National Teams
Ethiopia 1-1 Nigeria: Ajibade salvages draw for wasteful Super Falcons against Lucy
By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde
Nigeria’s senior women’s national team found a way to overcome their depletion and wastefullness as they held their Ethiopian counterpart to a 1-1 draw in the Paris 2024 Olympics Qualifiers at Addis Ababa, on Wednesday.
With visa hitches and injury troubles, the depleted Super Falcons under Justine Madugu were forced to make five changes to the team that lost on penalties to England in the Round of 16 at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Akudo Ogbonna, Nicole Payne, Peace Efih, Gift Monday, and Asisat Oshoala replaced unavaliable Ashleigh Plumptre, Osinachi Ohale, Christy Ucheibe, Halimatu Ayinde, while Ifeoma Onumonu was left on the bench.
Chiamaka Nnadozie, Tosin Demehin, Michelle Alozie, Rasheedat Ajibade, Toni Payne, and Uchenna Kanu maintained their starter shirts.
On the other hand, Ethiopia started Tariqua Bergena in goal alongside Nardos Getnet, Bethelhem Bekele, Birkie Amare, Bizuayehu Taddese, Nyabuonyi Yien, Meadin Sahilu, Messay Temesgen, Ariet Ofong, Rediet Asresaegn, and captain Loza Abera.
Moments after Oshoala missed a sitter, the Lucy would grab a deserved lead as early as the sixth minute when Amare was at the end of a corner kick to score from a goalmouth scramble.
The West Africans failed to find their back into the mix for the rest of the opening half as their first encounter after a Round of 16 finish at the global showpiece was not going according to expectation.
On resumption of the clash, Ajibade’s stunning half volley at the edge of the box beat Bergena in goal for the East Africans in the 52nd minute to level the scoreline.
Onumonu who replaced Monday would have thought her header had won the match for the nine-time African champions, but the goal was ruled out for an offside.
The match marked the debut appearance for Tenerife forward, Rinsola Babajide who switched allegiance to the West Africans from England as well as U17 Women’s World Cup bronze winner and Robo Queens star Opeyemi Ajakaye.
The return leg of the Second Round match will be held at the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja on Tuesday, 31st October 2023, with the winner on aggregate to square up to the winner of the Cameroon/Uganda fixture for a place in the final round of the qualification series.
