Olympics: Ayinde Lauds Falcons Qualification For Next Round

Olympics: Ayinde Lauds Falcons Qualification For Next Round

By Salifu Usman, Abuja

Super Falcons and Eskilstuna United of Sweden inspirational midfielder, Ayinde Halimatu Ibrahim has congratulated her Super Falcons’ teammates for qualifying for the third-round of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games’ qualifiers.

The Nigeria women’s team defeated Algeria 1-0 in the second leg to advance to the next round of the Tokyo 2020 qualifiers, yesterday. Coach Thomas Dennerby-led girls took a 2-0 first-leg lead in Bilda and they managed another goal to progress 3-0 on aggregate.
Ayinde, who couldn’t make up the team due to injury, said she was confident that the team would get the job done, saying that the African champions qualification for the Olympic Games is long overdue.

“I trust them that they will get the job done and will pick the Olympics ticket for Nigeria. We have actually missed the feeling of playing in the Olympic Games for long time now. So, we are going to make sure that we qualify. It’s either now or never,” Ayinde said.

With victory against Algeria over two legs affair, Nigeria will play either Mali or Cote d’Ivoire in the third qualifying round this month and October.
The former ADCC FC of Abu Dhabi midfield marshal, who had played in three African Women Championships and two FIFA Women’s World Cup, urged her teammates to stay focus ahead of the next round qualifying matches.

“Now that you have been able to turn the table against Algeria and qualify for the next round, we should remain focus of the next game. I want you to see this as a wake-up call for bigger challenges because the higher you go, the tougher it becomes”.
Recall that Super Falcons failed to qualify for both 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games held in London and Rio respectively.