Nigeria's Super Falcons soared to victory in a nail-biting showdown against Cameroon, securing their spot in the final round of the African qualifying series for the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament.
The tension was palpable as Esther Okoronkwo's 15th-minute strike at the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, ultimately proved to be the decisive moment in a grueling 180-minute duel over two legs.
The match began with both teams locked in a stalemate, with neither side able to break the deadlock in the first leg in Douala or the initial minutes in Abuja.
However, it was Okoronkwo who seized the opportunity to shine, capitalizing on a precise long ball from the defense.
Okoronkwo breaks Cameroonian hearts
Outpacing her markers with lightning speed, Okoronkwo found captain Rasheedat Ajibade, whose deft chip was met by the agile Michaely Bihina. Yet, Bihina's heroic save fell into the path of Okoronkwo, who coolly finished to ignite celebrations among the home crowd.
The encounter was not without its share of drama. Jennifer Echegini, still embroiled in controversy over her disallowed goal in Douala, came close in the 13th minute before Okoronkwo's heroics.
Cameroon responded with vigor, threatening from a corner kick in the 32nd minute, only to be thwarted by the alert Chiamaka Nnadozie.
As the game intensified, both sides traded blows, with Ajibade and Okoronkwo testing Bihina's mettle. In a heart-stopping moment, Cameroon's Mana Lamine missed a golden opportunity just before halftime.
Super Falcons profligate
The second half saw Bihina stand tall against a barrage of Nigerian attacks, denying Ajibade, Echegini, and the relentless substitutes Akudo Ogbonna and Asisat Oshoala.
Cameroon thought they had equalized when Marie Ngah Manga met a cross, but Nnadozie's acrobatic save kept Nigeria's lead intact.
The tension reached fever pitch when Cameroon's Marie Enganemben was sent off for an ill-tempered clash with Nnadozie, reducing the Lionesses to 10 players.
With victory secured, Nigeria now looks ahead to a tantalizing final round clash against reigning African champions South Africa in April, setting the stage for a thrilling showdown between two footballing powerhouses.