Nigeria’s Under 20 football team, the Falconets, defeated Burundi 1-0 on Saturday to qualify for the 2024 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.

The match at the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja saw both teams playing a defensive game in the first half.

In the quarter hour, Chiamaka Okwuchukwu swung the ball into the visitors’ box from the wing, but Falconet’s leading scorer, Janet Akekoromowei, failed to convert the opportunity.

It was Okwuchukwu’s turn to miss in the 34th minute when she could not convert a pull-out by Opeyemi Ajakaye.

The two teams fought hard but could not utilise their scoring chances in the first half.

However, Ajakaye made hay with an assist by Akekoromowei in the 79th minute when she banged in the match’s only goal.

What would have been the second goal for the Falconets, scored by Ajakaye in the 90th minute, was disallowed by the referee.

The result put Nigeria through to the finals of the 2024 U-20 Women’s World Cup, slated to be held in Colombia from August 31 to September 22.

Nigeria has been ever-present at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup since it was launched as a U-19 tournament in Canada in 2002.

Nigeria finished as runners-up in 2010 and 2014 and reached the semi-finals in Japan in 2012.

The 2024 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup will be the 11th edition of the championship.

It will be the third time Colombia will host a FIFA tournament and the first FIFA women’s tournament to be hosted by the country. 

(NAN)