Nigeria’s Super Falcons have advanced to the next round of the 2028 Olympic women’s football qualifiers after defeating Comoros 5-0 in the second leg in Ikenne, Ogun State, on Tuesday to secure a 7-0 aggregate victory.
Braces from Uchenna Kanu and Toni Payne, alongside a penalty from Christy Ucheibe, sealed the emphatic win and set up a third-round meeting with Morocco’s Atlas Lionesses.
The Super Falcons, who won the first leg 2-0, controlled proceedings early, with Gift Monday coming close to opening the scoring in the ninth minute after breaking through on goal but failing to round the Comoros goalkeeper.
Nigeria 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.
The breakthrough arrived in the 41st minute when Kanu capitalised on a defensive error by the Comoros goalkeeper and squared the ball to Payne, who finished from close range.
Interim coach Augustine Eguavoen introduced Blessing Okpe for Monday at the interval, and the substitution helped Nigeria intensify their attacking pressure.
In the 58th minute, Ijamilusi delivered an accurate cross into the penalty area for Kanu to head home Nigeria’s second goal of the evening.
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Kanu thought she had scored again three minutes later after connecting with another Ijamilusi delivery, but the effort was ruled out for offside.
The hosts extended their lead in the 63rd minute when Okpe beat two Comoros defenders on a driving run before cutting the ball back for Payne to score her second goal of the match.
Three minutes later, Ijamilusi supplied another cross for Kanu to head home her second goal of the night and third across the two-legged tie.
Nigeria were awarded a penalty in the 71st minute after Okpe was brought down inside the box. Ucheibe converted from the spot to complete the 5-0 victory.
The technical crew made further changes late in the game, with Jennifer Echegini and Kanu making way for Suliat Abideen and Shakirat Moshood in the 81st minute. Fatimah Soliat replaced Payne four minutes before the end of regulation time.
The aggregate victory sends the Super Falcons into the next round of the African qualifying campaign, where they will face Morocco’s Atlas Lionesses.
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