Nigeria’s Falconets Secure Spot in 2024 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup

Nigeria’s U20 women’s football team, the Falconets, have clinched a spot in the upcoming FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup after a hard-fought battle against Burundi.

The victory came on the back of a solitary goal by Opeyemi Ajakaye in the final round, second-leg encounter at the MKO Abiola National Stadium.

With a 2-0 aggregate victory, the Falconets had previously secured a 1-0 win in the first leg held in Dar es Salaam six days earlier. Despite dominating the match, the Nigerian team struggled to convert numerous opportunities into goals, showcasing their vast superiority but facing difficulties in making it count.

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The encounter saw early chances for the Falconets, including a 2nd-minute volley by Opeyemi Ajakaye, the top scorer for the FIFA U17 World Cup bronze-winning Flamingos two years ago. However, it took until the 78th minute for Ajakaye to break the deadlock, capitalizing on an assist by Janet Akekoromowei. While Ajakaye found the net again in the 90th minute, the goal was disallowed.

With this result, Nigeria’s Falconets secure their place in the final tournament scheduled to take place in Colombia later this year. Nigeria has consistently featured in the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup, with notable achievements, including finishing as runners-up in 2010 and 2014 and reaching the semi-finals in Japan in 2012.