Nigeria 4-0 Ethiopia [5-1 agg]: Super Falcons record biggest win since WAFCON 2022

By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde

Nigeria’s senior women’s national team recorded a 4-0 win against Ethiopia in the Paris 2024 Olympic Qualifiers at MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, and sealed a place in the third round.

Interim coach Justin Madugu made two changes to the team that played out a 1-1 draw at the Abebe Bikila Stadium, Addis Ababa with Rofiat Imuran and Ifeoma Onumonu replacing Gift Monday and Nicole Payne respectively.

Chiamaka Nnadozie, Tosin Demehin, Michelle Alozie, Rasheedat Ajibade, Uchenna Kanu, Akudo Ogbonna, Peace Efih, Toni Payne, and Asisat Oshoala maintained their starter shirts.

Ethiopian coach Firew Hailegebriel maintained the team that forced Nigeria to a 1-1 draw last week.

The Super Falcons started the game on the front foot but dominance didn’t result in an early goal as the nine-time African champions had to wait till the end of the first half to break the deadlock.

Kanu scored the opener in the 45th minute with a good finish from a pass by Tosin Demehin.

The second half was quite different from the first as the ever-present team at the FIFA Women’s World Cup doubled the lead five minutes into the half as Oshoala set up Ajibade.

Oshoala in the 68th minut was at the end of Kanu’s cross from the left wing as she headed in Nigeria’s third goal in the 68th minute.

Ajibade completed her brace in the 72nd minute with Nigeria’s fourth goal which sealed a 5-1 win on aggregate.

The win marked Nigeria’s biggest win in a year after their 4-0 win over Burundi in the final group game of the 2022 Women’s African Cup of Nations with goals from Ajibade, Efih, and Kanu (brace) on July 10.

Nigeria will take on either Uganda or Cameroon in the third round of the qualifiers next February.