Paris 2024: Okoronkwo’s goal earns Nigeria 1-0 victory over Cameroon 

By  Harry Awurumibe, Africa’s No.1 Women Football Journalists

A first half goal scored by Super Falcons forward Esther Okoronkwo in the 15th minute of the match was all that Nigeria needed to beat hard fighting Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon 1-0 at Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja on Monday in the return leg of the Paris Olympics women’s football African qualifiers double-header to qualify for the last round of the qualification series.

Both countries had played  a barren draw last Friday at Stade de la Reunification in Douala and the second leg in Abuja presented Nigeria the opportunity to maximise home advantage to get the needed goal to qualify for the last round where the West Africans will now meet African reigning champions South Africa to decide who gets one of the tickets to represent Africa at Paris Olympics.

The match was characterised by injuries including the one to Nigeria’s goalscorer Okoronkwo who was stretchered out of the field while one the Cameroonian players was given a  red card for unsportsmanly behaviour when she ran inside the Nigerian goal post to push down goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie.