The Super Falcons fought a tough battle to edge Ghana’s Black Queens and reach the final round of the qualification series for next year’s Africa Women Cup of Nations (AWCON) to be hosted by Morocco.

A lone goal win in Accra on Sunday evening meant the nine-time African champions survived with a 2-1 aggregate win over their hosts.

Both teams finished with 10 players after Ghana’s captain Portia Boakye was dismissed for a second bookable offence. Minutes later, Nigeria’s left-back Glory Ogbonna was expelled by Ivorian referee Zomadre Sonia Kore.

The lively Princella Adubea got Ghana’s goal midway into the second half.

Afterwards, captain Asisat Oshoala missed an opportunity to draw Nigeria level.

With the strong scent of blood, the Black Queens launched onslaught after onslaught but could not get the goal that would have tied the fixture and made penalty shootout inevitable at the Accra Sports Stadium.

The Falcons progressed to the final round, where they will play the Lady Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire in February 2022.

(NAN)