Ethiopia 1 Nigeria 1: Super Falcons stand-in-captain Ajibade salvages draw with superb long-range strike

The Super Falcons played out a 1-1 draw with Ethiopia in the first leg of the 2024 Olympic Games played at the Abebe Bikila Stadium on Wednesday afternoon.

Nigeria lined up in a 4-3-3 formation with several changes made to the team that got knocked out by England in the round of 16 of the FIFA Women's World Cup 

Asisat Oshoala had the chance to put Nigeria ahead as early as the 5th minute but fluffed her lines.

The Super Falcons will be punished for Oshoala's miss as Birkie Amare will put Ethiopia ahead few minutes later after the African giants failed to clear the lines from a corner kick.

The Barcelona Femení forward got another chance to restore parity at the start of the second half but couldn't hit the target yet again.

It was stand-in skipper Rasheedat Ajibade who drew level for Nigeria in the 51st minute with a brilliant strike from outside the penalty box.

Former Liverpool and Young Lionesses winger Rinsola Babajide came off the bench in the 71st minute for her first competitive appearance for the Super Falcons after switching nationality from England to Nigeria. 

Substitute Ifeoma Onumonu could have snatched a last-minute winner but she was denied by the offside flag.

The second leg of the 2024 Women Olympic Football Tournament qualification fixture against Ethiopia will hold on on Tuesday, 31st October. 

Abdulkareem Abdulhamid

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