Nigeria 1-0 Burundi (2-0 agg): Falconets seal 11th U20 Women’s World Cup berth

By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde

Nigeria U-20 women’s team booked a place at the 2024 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Colombia after a 1-0 win in the second leg of the final round of the African qualifiers in Abuja on Saturday.

Esther Opeyemi Ajakaye’s second half strike ensure the Falconets complete a double over their East African foes and guarantee their 11th consecutive qualification for youth global showpiece.

Anderline Mgbechi, Jumoke Alani, Oluchi Ohaegbulem, Adoo Yina, Shukurat Oladipo, Rebecca Adegbemile, Opeyemi Ajakaye, Chiamaka Okwuchukwu, Chioma Olise, Olushola Shobowale, and Janet Akekoromowei started for Christopher Danjuma’s side.

Okwuchukwu had the first chance of the match in the 33rd minute but her header from Ajakaye’s cross couldn’t find the back of the net.

Akekoromowei also saw her chance at the edge of the box went wide with two minutes to the end of the first half.

The 2022 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup quarter-finalists had another chance when Okwuchukwu drove in from the right but failed to find the net in the 70th minute.

The introduction of Mary Lucky Mkpa in place of Okwuchukwu in the 77th minute changed the tide of the game.

The new entrant set up Ajakaye who converted the winning goal 22 minutes later.

The combination of the two players also led to another goal which was ruled out for an offside.

In the end, Falconets sealed a 2-0 win on aggregate and qualified for this year’s finals in the North American country.