Nine-time champions Nigeria moved closer to an appearance at the 12th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon), Morocco 2022 after beating Cote d’Ivoire 2-0 on Friday.
US-based Ifeoma Onumonu made sure the absence of injured captain Asisat Oshoala was not felt by scoring both goals in either half of the final qualifying round’s first leg clash at at MKO Abiola Stadium in Abuja on Friday.
The Gotham FC forward put the hosts ahead after 21 minutes against Ivory Coast.
Ifeoma, 27, then scored her side’s second four minutes to the hour mark to put the game beyond the reach of the visitors.
The Lady Elephants had chances to have scored a consolation but the Super Falcons defended well to claim the 2-0 win.
The Super Falcons contingent will fly out of Abuja to Abidjan on Sunday ahead of the second leg scheduled for Stade Robert Champroux on February 23.
Cote d’Ivoire will be hoping to upset the not-too-impressive record African champions by overturning the first-leg deficit.
First leg results of other games:
Burundi 6-1 Djibouti
Zambia 0-0 Namibia
Guinea-Bissau 0-6 Burkina Faso
Senegal 1-0 Mali
Togo 2-1 Gabon
South Africa 2-0 Algeria
Zimbabwe 1-3 Botswana
Tunisia 5-0 Equatorial Guinea
Cameroon 8-0 Gambia
