Nigeria’s Under-20 women’s national team, the Falconets, claimed a 2-0 win over Malawi in the final qualifying round for the FIFIA U-20 Women’s World Cup at the Remo Stars stadium in Ikenne.

The Falconets needed an own goal and Kindness Ifeanyi’s strike, both in the second half, to seal the first leg advantage going into the second leg.

Falconets took the lead one minute after the start of the second half when a scoffed shot from a cross hit Maureen Kenneth before crossing the line into the net for 1-0 to Nigeria.

Ifeanyi doubled Nigeria’s lead in the 57th minute with a cool finish after rounding Malawi goalkeeper.

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The striker slotted the ball into the net from a few yards out despite the presence of two defenders on the goal line.

The coach Moses Aduku-led Falconets secured their third consecutive clean sheet at home in the qualifiers, and went into the second leg having won both their away matches at Senegal and Rwanda in the qualifier series.

The Falconets will travel to Malawi for the return leg at the Bingu National Stadium, Lilongwe, on May 9.

The aggregate winner will seal qualification as one of four nations to represent Africa at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup finals in Poland later this year. (Weekend)