In a game of almost equal strength, few clear-cut chances at the Accra Sports Stadium Tuesday, penalty shootouts was the needed tiebreaker after 120 minutes of play for the first semi-final match of the 2018 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations between Cameroon and Nigeria. And the Super Falcons snatched it.
The defending champions negotiated the nervy spot kicks 4-2 to their advantage, making them first African country to secure qualification to the 2019 Fifa Women’s World Cup in France.
Onome Ebi, Rasheedat Ajibade, Asisat Oshoala and Ngozi Ebere all converted their kicks for Nigeria with Njoya Ajara and Raissa Feudjio doing same in the first two kicks for Les Lionnes Indomptables.
Striker Deborah Enganamouit, however, saw her penalty kick stopped by goalkeeper Oluehi Tochukwu while Marie Awona also had her effort going just wide.
Nigeria, by the shootout win, also advance to the grand finale of the 11th edition of the Women’s Afcon set for the Accra Sports Stadium on Saturday, December 1.
Despite the heartbreak for Cameroon, coach Joseph Ndocko’s side still have a chance to fight for a World Cup slot in Friday’s third-place play off at Cape Coast Stadium.
The second semi-final between South Africa follows at 18:30 GMT at the Cape Coast Stadium.
