Portsmouth Star Iniabasi Umotong Makes Nigeria Debut In Draw With Mali

The Falcons have one foot in the All Africa Games, scheduled to take place in Brazzaville, Congo, in September after holding hosts Mali to a 1 - 1 draw in the first leg, last round of the qualifiers.

Mali were on the back foot for most of the first half, but Nigeria missed a plethora of chances before both teams went into the break.

On 52 minutes, Delta Queens star Ngozi Nkobi broke the deadlock, five minutes after the introduction of Portsmouth forward  Iniabasi Umotong, who replaced Amanze.

Midway through the second half, the hosts would have leveled matters if not for a brilliant stop by Ibebuleye Whyte.

However, Mali kept pressing for an equalizer and it arrived eight minutes from time after a defensive mix up between Whyte and Ngozi Ebere.

In the next two weeks, the country that will qualify for the AAG will be known when the return leg is played in Abuja.