Nigeria’s Super Falcons have advanced to the next round of the 2028 Olympic Games women’s football qualifiers after thrashing Comoros 5-0 in the second leg of their second-round encounter in Ikenne on Tuesday, completing a 7-0 aggregate victory.
The Super Falcons, who won the first leg 2-0, dominated the return fixture, with Toni Payne scoring twice, while Uchenna Kanu netted a brace and Christy Ucheibe converted a penalty.
Nigeria started brightly, with Gift Monday coming close to opening the scoring in the ninth minute after breaking through on goal, but she failed to get past the Comoros goalkeeper.
The hosts suffered a setback in the 28th minute when captain Rasheedat Ajibade was forced off following a heavy collision. Folashade Ijamilusi came on as her replacement.
The breakthrough finally arrived in the 41st minute when Kanu capitalised on a goalkeeping error by intercepting the ball before setting up Payne, who finished from close range.
Nigeria resumed the second half with greater attacking intensity after Blessing Okpe replaced Monday at the interval.
The change paid off in the 58th minute when Ijamilusi delivered a precise cross into the penalty area for Kanu to head home Nigeria’s second goal.
READ ALSO: NFF Sacks Super Falcons Technical Crew
Kanu appeared to have scored again three minutes later from another Ijamilusi delivery, but the effort was ruled out for offside.
The Super Falcons extended their lead in the 63rd minute when Okpe beat two Comoros defenders on a run down the flank before cutting the ball back for Payne to score her second goal of the match.
Three minutes later, Ijamilusi provided another assist, sending in a cross that Kanu headed into the net to complete her brace and take Nigeria’s lead to 4-0.
Nigeria’s fifth goal came in the 71st minute after Okpe was brought down inside the penalty area. Ucheibe converted the resulting spot-kick to seal the emphatic victory.
The technical crew made further substitutions in the closing stages, with Suliat Abideen and Shakirat Moshood replacing Jennifer Echegini and Kanu in the 81st minute. Fatimah Soliat later came on for Payne in the 87th minute.
The aggregate victory sends Nigeria into the next round of the qualifying campaign, where they will face Morocco’s Atlas Lionesses.
