African champions Nigeria are through to the second round of the TotalEnergies Women’s Africa Cup of Nations despite a disappointing 1-0 defeat to west African rivals Ghana in Accra on Sunday.
The Super Falcons fought a tough battle to edge out Ghana’s Black Queens and reach the final round of the qualification series for next year’s Women Africa Cup of Nations to be hosted by Morocco. A lone goal defeat in Accra on Sunday evening meant the nine-time African champions survived with a 2-1 aggregate win over their hosts.
Princella Adubea in the 47th minute scored the lone goal of the game for Ghana as the Super Falcons were expecting adherence to fair play principle.
Afterwards, captain Asisat Oshoala missed an opportunity to draw Nigeria level. With the strong scent of blood, the Black Queens launched onslaught after onslaught but could not get the goal that would have tied the fixture and make penalty shootout inevitable at the Accra Sports Stadium.
Both teams finished with 10 players after Ghana’s Portia Boakye in the 64th minute was the first to receive her marching order before Umeå IK FF defender, Glory Ogbonna followed suit in the 69th minute by being red-carded for the Nigerian side.
Nigeria has qualified for the final stage of qualification for the 2022 AWCON and will face Ivory Coast in a bid to qualify for the tournament to be hosted by Morocco.
MOLATsportgist 