The Nigerian Super Falcons at the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja left it late to wipe off hard fighting Lucy Babes from Ethiopia 4-0 in the second leg of the African zone Paris Olympics women football.
The Lucy Babes fought spiritedly to resist the misfiring Falcons in the first half especially Ballon D’oor target 20 and best African woman Footballer, Asisat Oshoala who kept shooting wide.
Soul Train left winger, Uchenna Kanu collected a long pass from the middle area, beat onrushing three Ethiopian players including their goalkeeper in the 43rd minute for Nigeria’s opening goal.
The Super Falcons showed stuff and ‘Agba Baller’, Assisat Oshoala connected Captain Rasheedat Ajibade who slammed in the 2nd goal in the 50th minute only for Uchenna love note to find the good header of Oshoala for Nigeria’s 3rd goal in the 68th minute.
The scanty crowd at the stadium who were given free show by the NFF kept shouting “oh, Oh,” for the many misses of the Super Falcons especially when former England International, Omorinsola Babajide playing her second game for Nigeria and the crowd shouted Babajide Sanwoolu, Sanwo goal e o meaning the name of the Lagos State Governor to register his or in this case her own goal.
The Ethiopians were well stretched henceforth which made Captain Ajibade get her brace for Nigeria’s 4th goal and the aggregate ended 5-1 in favor of Nigeria.
Nigeria without her coach, Waldrum had played 1-1 with Ethiopia on the 25th of October (last Thursday) in Adis Ababa. The coach was reported to have taken permission to attend to his sick wife and his Nigerian assistants had to take over. Incidentally, Waldrum who had a fantastic outing at the last world cup had his contract expiring today Tuesday 31st October and there is no word from the Glass House on this.
The Super Falcon hopes to cancel a 15 year nonappearance at the Olympic Games, had met Ethiopia thrice now winning two and drawing one. Nigeria spanked Ethiopia 3-0 in an AFCON game on the 1st of November 2012 and played 1-1 draw last Thursday before the 4-0 ‘wotowoto’ game today.
Nigeria had her last three matches before the Ethiopian clashes beating Sao Tome 3-0 in an AFCON game on 19th September after playing goalless with England on 7th August and another goalless with Ireland on 31st July at the world cup.
The Lucy Babes of Ethiopia thought they had arrived after a 10-1 aggregate against Chad; 6-0 in Addis Ababa on 13th July and 1-4 in Chad on 16th July. Ethiopia had played two legged matches in the AFCON against Burundi on the 22nd September and 26th September which both ended 1-1 each.
In another Olympic qualifier, The Bayana Bayana of South Africa defeated the Lady Elephants of Ivory Coast 2-0 in Jo’Burg.
By Eniola Olatunji
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