By Kehinde Okeowo
Super Falcons moved to the next round of the African Women’s Cup of Nations despite losing 1-0 to the Black Queens in Accra.
The home side needed more than two goals to reverse the 2-0 deficit they conceded at the Mobolaji Bank Anthony Stadium, Onikan, Lagos, to qualify for the second round.
They however failed, as the return leg in Accra ended 1-0, meaning they will not be joining the continental gathering in Morocco next year.
Nigeria on the other side, progressed at the expense of their West African neighbors despite losing.
This is because the two goals they scored in Lagos gave them a 2-1 aggregate advantage.
Ghana threw everything at the away side, in their bid to overturn the 2-0 deficit, but their Nigerian counterpart took a cautious approach, by trying to catch the home side on the counter.
The only goal of the match was scored in the second half by the Black Stars through Princella Adubea.
Black Queens’ captain, Boakye, was sent off for a second bookable offense in the 65th minute, having fouled Oshoala on a counter-break.
That gave the Super Falcons a breather, but their numerical advantage didn’t last long, as Glory Ogbonna was sent off in the 75th minute for a reckless challenge on Naomi Animah.
Ghana hit the bar in the dying minutes but Nigeria girls held firm on to maintain a 2-1 aggregate and advance to the second round.
