Nigeria qualifies for FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup 2024

The Nigeria Under-20 Falconets have earned a place in this year’s FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup finals after a brace from Opeyemi Ajakaiye earned them a 2-0 victory in the match. return on the Burundi fighter at the MKO Abiola National Stadium on Saturday.

They qualified 3-0 on aggregate, after winning 1-0 on the road last Sunday in the final round of the qualifying race in Africa.

As in the first leg in Dar es Salaam, the Nigerians created many scoring opportunities but struggled to convert them.

In the second minute, Opeyemi Ajakaye, top scorer for the Flemings who won bronze at the FIFA U-17 World Cup two years ago, missed a wide volley when it seemed easier to score.

In the 15th minute, Chiamaka Okwuchukwu sent the ball into the visiting area from the wing, but the team’s top scorer, Janet Akekoromowei, did not take advantage of the opportunity.

It was Okwuchukwu’s turn to fail in the 34th minute when he failed to take advantage of an Ajakaiye retreat.

Eight minutes after the restart, Ajakaiye made a solo run into the visiting area, only to finish with a weak shot that was easily deflected by Burundi goalkeeper Amissa Inarukundo.

Ajakaiye, assisted by Akekoromowei, broke the tie in the 78th minute. Ajakaiye then scored the second goal at just the right time for the Falconets to qualify for the tournament in Colombia later this year.

Nigeria has been a fixture at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup since FIFA launched it as an U-19 tournament in Canada 22 years ago, finishing as runners-up in 2010 and 2014, and reaching the semi-finals in Japan in 2012. . .