2024 Olympic qualifiers: Ethiopia force Nigeria to draw

Nigeria’s players pose for a team photo during the Australia and New Zealand 2023 Women’s World Cup round of 16 football match between England and Nigeria at Brisbane Stadium in Brisbane on August 7, 2023. (Photo by Patrick Hamilton / AFP)

Ethiopia held Nigeria’s Super Falcons to a 1-1 draw in the first leg, a second round of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games qualifiers in Addis Ababa on Wednesday.

The game which was played inside the Abebe Bikila stadium, saw Ethiopia take a shock 1-0 lead in the 6th minute through Birkie Amare.

A corner kick led to a scramble inside the Falcons 18-yard box with Amare reacting quickest to slot home past Chiamaka Nnadozie.

After a frustrating first half, the Falcons eventually leveled up early in the second half through captain Rasheedat Ajibade with a superb volley.

Ajibade controlled a poor clearance by an Ethiopian defender outside the box and hit a long-range strike which flew into the top corner to make it 1-1 on 52 minutes.

In the 92nd minute, Ifeoma Onumonu thought she had put the Falcons 2-1 ahead but her effort was ruled out for offside.

Both teams will meet again for the second leg which will come up on Tuesday, October 31 inside the MKO Abiola stadium in Abuja.

The only previous encounter between the Falcons and Ethiopia was in the group stage at the 2012 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations which the Nigerians won 3-0.

Follow Us