Super Falcons are just one step away from Paris Olympics after beating Cameroon 1-0 in Abuja

NIGERIA'S Super Falcons have qualified for the final stage of the 2024 Women's Olympic tournament after beating Cameroon's Indomitable Lionesses 1-0 in Abuja today and setting up a likely clash with South Africa's Bayana Bayana to determine who goes to Paris.

Two teams will get to represent Africa in the women's Olympic football tournament and going into the penultimate round, there were eight sides seeking qualification. Nigeria and Cameroon met in Douala on Friday where they played a goalless draw and with today's victory in Abuja, the Falcons have qualified for the final qualifier.

South Africa for their part beat Tanzania 3-0 in Dar es Salam and are due to play the second leg tomorrow at the Mbombela Stadium in the Mpumalanga province of South Africa tomorrow. Ghana, Zambia, Morocco and Tunisia are battling it out for the other slot, with all second legs of their semi finals taking place today and tomorrow.

After the Falcons failed to convert numerous chances in Douala, head coach Randy Waldrum made two changes to today's line-up, with Jennifer Echegini and Esther Okoronkwo stepping in for Asisat Oshoala and Halimatu Ayinde. However, the decision proved decisive, with both Jennifer Echegini and Esther Okoronkwo making notable contributions in the opening goal.

Nigeria started the game on the front foot with Okoronkwo and Rasheedat Ajibade threatening to get the opener but it was the away side that got the first shot on target. Nigeria then took the lead through Okoronkwo in the 14th minute who took advantage of a goal-mouth scramble after Echegini dribbled her way into the penalty area.

Echegini had the chance to double the lead in the 31st minute from close range but was denied by the Cameroonian goalkeeper Biya Carthy. In the 37th minute, Carthy would also deny Rasheedat Ajibade with a point-blank save to keep Cameroon's hope alive.

Nigeria were forced to make their first change of the game four minutes before the end of the first half, as centreback Tosin Demehin was injured and had to be brought off for Ayinde. In the second half, the Falcons failed to create a clear-cut chance and the closest they got to scoring was when Oshoala worked her way into the box but could not test the goalkeeper or find a teammate.

Okoronkwo's decisive goal has now set up the ultimate clash in April, which is likely to be against Bayana Bayana. In the first half, the referee made a controversial call when a Cameroonian defender handled the ball in the area but instead of calling a penalty, the referee awarded a corner kick to the Falcons.

Meanwhile, Cameroon's Enganemben Annie was shown a red card for unsportsmanlike conduct during the final moments of the game. Annie received the red card for punching Falcons goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie.