Nigeria’s Super Falcons have advanced to the third round of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games qualifiers after defeating Comoros 5-0 at Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne on Tuesday, securing a 7-0 aggregate victory.
The emphatic win featured a second-half scoring spree by the side led by interim coach Augustine Eguavoen. Inter Milan forward Toni Payne and Cruz Azul striker Uchenna Kanu scored twice each, while Christy Ucheibe converted a penalty.
Payne opened the scoring in the 41st minute after Kanu capitalised on an error by the Comoros goalkeeper and squared the ball for her to finish. Nigeria went into the break with a 1-0 lead but suffered a setback when captain Rasheedat Ajibade sustained an ankle injury.
Ajibade was stretchered off in tears and replaced by Folashade Ijamilusi, who went on to provide two assists.
Kanu doubled Nigeria’s lead in the 58th minute, heading home an Ijamilusi cross. Five minutes later, substitute Blessing Okpe dribbled past two defenders before setting up Payne for her second goal of the match.
Ijamilusi provided another assist in the 66th minute, crossing for Kanu to head in her second goal of the evening.
Okpe subsequently won a penalty after being fouled inside the box, allowing Ucheibe to calmly convert from the spot in the 71st minute.
Introduced at half-time in place of Gift Monday, Okpe finished the match with an assist and the run that led to the penalty.
The Super Falcons kept clean sheets in both legs of the tie, completing a convincing aggregate victory as they progressed to the next round.
Nigeria will face Morocco in the third round of the Olympic qualifiers in March 2027. Winning the two-legged encounter would bring the women’s national team closer to securing a fifth appearance at the Olympic Games.