Nigeria’s Falconets on Saturday thrashed South Africa’s Basetsana girls 6-0 in the second leg of the final qualifiers for the 2018 U-20 Women’s World Cup in France.
Before Saturday’s game, the visitors pledged to cancel the two-goal deficit inflicted on them in Polokwane in the first leg. But Gift Monday opened the floodgates as early as the 5th minute and the Basetsana never found a way into the game.
Rasheedat Ajibade and Anam Imo got the goals in the first leg in Polokwane, and it was typical Ajibade who doubled Nigeria’s lead in the 21st minute before Imo made it 3-0 only five minute later.
Ajibade made it four in the 32nd minute, and Monday got her brace seven minutes later as Basetsana crumbled to a 0-5 situation before half time.
Imo got her own brace in the 73rd minute to wrap up the evening, two minutes after Monday was expelled for a second bookable offence after a foul on a South African opponent.
Victory ensured Nigeria maintained her record of qualifying for every edition of the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup, since it was launched as an U19 competition in Canada 16 years ago.
The 9th FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup finals will hold in France 7th – 26th August 2018.
Meanwhile, Falconets Coach, Christopher Danjuma, said he is satisfied with the performance of the team.
“We are a team that is building stage by stage. Of course, we will add more firepower. This is just 30 per cent of the preparation for the World Cup, this is the African stage. Going to the world stage now, we must add 70 per cent to what we have,” he said.
On its part, the South African team coach, Maud Khumalo, while congratulating the Falconets, said they are more experience.
The Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki concluded the Falconets over the victory.
“We have come to establish Edo as the Mecca of victories for this team, and we promise to continue to provide the conducive environment for them to continue to play and secure victory on the home soil,” he said.