Nigeria’s Super Falcons have qualified for the 2016 African Women Cup of Nations in Cameroon after beating Senegal 2-0 in Abuja on Tuesday. It was their 10th consecutive qualification.
Goals from Rita Chikwelu and Osarenoma Igbinovia gave the Super Falcons a 2-0 win at the National Stadium, Abuja, to ensure a 3-1 aggregate win over the Senegalese after the first leg had finished 1-1 in Dakar last Friday.
Nigeria are the defending champions of the AWCON and have joined the likes of Egypt, who got their first qualification on Monday, Equatorial Guinea, among others in Cameroon.
According to reports on the Nigeria Football Federation Twitter handle, the Falcons showed their intent from the start of the match as they attacked their opponents with the needed sense of urgency. They came close in the 18th minute when Ebere Orji missed from close range after failing to connect a pass from Asisat Oshoala.
Nigeria were awarded a penalty in the 30th minute after the Lionesses committed a foul on Orji in the penalty area. The resultant kick was struck against the bar by Oshoala to keep the game scoreless.
But Chikwelu gave the fans, who thronged the stadium to watch the team, something to cheer when she scored the opener in the 36th minute and Igbinovia ensured qualification in the 46th minute when she converted an Oshoala pass from close range.
The Lionesses had their coach, Bassouare Diaby, sent off in the 50th minute.
