Cameroon 0 Nigeria 0: Echegini's goal ruled out as Super Falcons forced to goalless draw in Olympic qualifier

Nigeria held host Cameroon to a barren draw in the first leg of the third round of the  2024 Paris Olympics played at the Stade de la Reunification on Friday evening. 

The Super Falcons started the game on the back foot with the Indomitable Lionesses enjoying the larger share of the possession but Chiamaka Nnadozie dealt with their early efforts.

Nigeria got their first chance to threaten the host goal in the 28th minute with Toni Payne making a good run down the right flank side of the attack but her pass couldn't find the free Asisat Oshoala.

Nnadozie was forced to make another fantastic save in the 39th minute when her goal was threatened to be breached.

The first half ended with both sides failing to find the back of the net and the Super Falcons failing to register a shot on target.

Oshoala finally had the chance to register the Super Falcons first  shot on target early on in the second half when she found herself one-the-one with the goalkeeper but couldn't find the necessary precision to find the back of the net.

Substitute Jennifer Echegini thought she had gotten the lead in the 54th minute but her effort was ruled out for offside.

Ten minutes later she tried to set up Oshoala from the edge of the penalty area but the former's pass was effortlessly gathered by the goalkeeper.

Nigeria  came close to getting a late winner through Echegini when Payne put a cross into the penalty area but the former couldn't connect her head to it.

The Indomitable Lionesses got the last attempt of the game through a corner kick but their effort was calmly saved by Nnadozie.

All attention will now shift to the second leg which will take place on Monday at the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja.

Abdulkareem Abdulhamid

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