Liadi
Falconets brightened their chances of qualifying for the 2022 FIFA Under 20 Women’s World Cup after they defeated Senegal 3-1 in the first leg of the final round of qualifiers played yesterday at Stade Lat-Dior, Thies.
The Nigeria’s Under 20 Women side had beaten Sierra Leone (11-0), Congo (4-0), and Cameroon (3-0) all on aggregate (except Congo that failed to honour the return leg) to put themselves within 180 minutes of qualifying for another cadet World Cup.
The Falconets despite playing away from home were able to record a 3-1 victory in Thies to ensure the Senegalese will visit Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City wih a mountain to climb If they are to upset form book to pick the ticket ahead of Nigeria.
Flourish Sebastine was the heroine of the game weighing in a hat trick for her fifth goal of the qualifiers. She scored the curtain raiser in the eighth minute before netting the second and third In the 56th and 62nd minutes. The third goal came from the penalty spot after wave of ceaseless bombardment of the Senegalese goal area.
Senegal managed to pull a goal back in the 89th minute through Adji Ndiaye to dent Falconets’ clean sheet record. It was the first time they conceded a goal after seven games.
The return leg holds at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin on March 26th with the winner on aggregate cruising to the 2022 FIFA Under 20 World Cup fixed for Costa Rica in August.
