Nigeria 2-1 Tanzania [3-2agg]: Falconets inch closer to Colombia 2024

Nigeria U20 women’s national team have progressed to the final round of qualifiers for the 2024 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup following a gritting 2-1 second leg win over Tanzania in Abuja on Sunday.

The Falconets as the Nigeria’s U20 girls are called secured the passage to the final round 3-2 on aggregate after both sides had settled for 1-1 draw in Dar es Sallam last weekend.

Janet Akekoromowei put Nigeria in front after 16 minutes, when she rifled home from the edge of the box after an intelligent pass from Taiwo Afolabi.

Tanzania even the scoreline five minutes later as Jamila Mnunduka pounced on a loose ball from goalkeeper, Shukura Bakare who dropped the ball from an innocuous-looking free-kick 35 yards out.

Nigeria would have been ahead in the 25th minute, but defender Shukurat Oladipo’s well-struck free-kick from 40 yards was parried away by goalkeeper Zulfa Ally Makau. Ajakaye failed to make hay with another opportunity in the 33rd minute.

On the hour mark, defender Comfort Folorunsho broke the spell of 1-1 draws for Nigeria’s national teams in recent weeks, when she leapt highest to head home from Afolabi’s cross after a couple of touches from a corner kick.

The Falconets will now take on Burundi in the final round of qualifiers, to determine one of Africa’s flagbearers at next year’s global championship to be hosted by Colombia.