Former African champions Nigeria’s Super Falcons battled to a 0-0 draw with the Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon in their Paris 2024 penultimate qualifying round first leg clash in Douala on Friday, www.aclsports.com reports.
The Falcons, coached by Randy Waldrum for the first time since the FIFA Women’s World Cup ended in Australia and New Zealand last year went into the game with a full complement of stars including the recalled Ashleigh Plumptre and fit-again Halimatu Ayinde.
It was a cagey opening to the game with chances few and far between. The game would become a ding-dong as time wore on, and in the 27th minute, midfielder Toni Payne wasted a good opportunity to put Nigeria ahead.
Twelve minutes later, the Indomitable Lionesses caught a sight of goal, but goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, one of the world’s safest pair of hands at the moment, had things covered.
In the second half, the Lionesses stepped up their game as they were urged on by the home crowd at the Stade de la Reunification Douala. Yet, it was Nigeria that had the ball in the net five minutes into the second half, only for Ugandan referee Shamirah Nabbada to rule Jennifer Echegini off-side.
Neither side was able to break the deadlock in the end which leaves the tie hanging in the balance ahead of the return leg billed for the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja on Monday.
In another match in the penultimate round of the African qualifying series, reigning continental champions South Africa trounced Tanzania’s senior girls 3-0 in Dar es Salaam, with goals from Jermaine Seoposenwe, captain Thembi Kgatlana and Hildah Magaia. The winner on aggregate of the Nigeria/Cameroon fixture will most likely have to duel with the African champions for a place in Paris.
Super Falcons team list vs Cameroon
Nigeria XI: Nnadozie; Alozie (Rofiat Imuran 71′), Ohale, Demehin, Plumptre; Ayinde (Jennifer Echegini 46′), Deborah Abiodun (Onumonu 90′), Christy Ucheibe, Toni Payne (Esther Okoronkwo 46′); Ajibade, Oshoala (Rinsola Babajide 71′)
