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| Photo credit: Josbo Sports Photography |
- Nigeria extends their flawless qualification streak, securing a spot at WAFCON 2026 in Morocco.
- The tie was sealed by a crucial 1-1 draw in the second leg, highlighted by Ashleigh Plumptre's memorable first international goal.
The Super Falcons have once again cemented their status as continental giants, successfully booking their place at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations with a comfortable 3–1 aggregate victory over the determined Benin Republic.
Following their solid 2–0 win in Lomé, the Nigerian side needed only a composed performance in the return leg at the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abeokuta on Tuesday, which ended in a 1-1 draw, to guarantee safe passage to Morocco.
The moment the home fans had been waiting for arrived early in the 12th minute. The opener came not from a forward, but from defender Ashleigh Plumptre, who rose spectacularly to meet Esther Okoronkwo’s perfectly flighted corner kick.
The former England youth international's commanding header was not just the goal that effectively killed the tie, but it was also the Al-Ittihad star's first-ever goal for the Nigerian national team, sending the crowd into raptures.
Coach Justine Madugu’s team was in control, showing maturity in possession and clear attacking intent, but the resilient Benin defence ensured the score remained 1–0 at the break.
While the tie looked settled, the visitors refused to surrender, finding a brilliant moment of their own in the 61st minute.
Yasminath Djibril stepped up and curled a superb free-kick past the outstretched hands of goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie to level the score on the night at 1–1.
Despite the momentary shock of the equaliser, the experienced Falcons never panicked. With a two-goal aggregate buffer still intact, the Nigerian team maintained control, seeing out the remaining minutes with focused professionalism.
The result confirms that the ten-time African champions will participate in the 14th edition of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
This qualification extends the Super Falcons’ perfect streak, as they have featured in every single WAFCON tournament since its inception.
Ejim Kaycee
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