Nigeria’s Super Falcons thrash Comoros to set up Olympic qualifying clash with Morocco

Nigeria’s Super Falcons have advanced to the next round of the 2028 Olympic Games women’s football qualifiers after beating Comoros 5-0 in the second leg of their second-round tie in Ikenne on Tuesday.

The victory secured a 7-0 aggregate triumph for Nigeria, who had won the first leg 2-0, and set up a meeting with Morocco’s Atlas Lionesses in the next round.

Payne and Kanu lead Nigeria’s attack

Nigeria started on the front foot, with Gift Monday going close in the ninth minute after breaking through on goal, but she was unable to round the Comoros goalkeeper successfully.

The Super Falcons suffered a setback in the 28th minute when captain Rasheedat Ajibade was forced off following a heavy collision. Folashade Ijamilusi came on as her replacement.

Nigeria eventually broke the deadlock in the 41st minute. Uchenna Kanu capitalised on a mistake by the Comoros goalkeeper before squaring the ball for Toni Payne to score from close range.

Second-half surge seals emphatic victory

Interim coach Augustine Eguavoen introduced Blessing Okpe for Monday at half-time, and the change helped Nigeria increase the pressure after the break.

Kanu doubled the lead on the night in the 58th minute, heading home a cross from Ijamilusi. The striker thought she had scored again three minutes later, but the effort was ruled out for offside.

Payne made it 3-0 in the 63rd minute after Okpe beat two defenders on the flank and cut the ball back for the midfielder to finish.

Kanu then scored her second of the match in the 66th minute, connecting with another Ijamilusi delivery to extend Nigeria’s advantage.

The Super Falcons completed the scoring in the 71st minute when Okpe won a penalty after being brought down inside the box. Christy Ucheibe converted from the spot to make it 5-0.

Morocco await the Super Falcons

Nigeria made further substitutions in the closing stages, with Suliat Abideen and Shakirat Moshood replacing Jennifer Echegini and Kanu in the 81st minute. Fatimah Soliat then came on for Payne in the 87th minute.

The 7-0 aggregate victory sends the Super Falcons into the next round of the Olympic qualifying campaign, where they will face Morocco’s Atlas Lionesses in a contest between two of Africa’s leading women’s national teams.