Nigeria senior women team have crashed out of the Rio 2016 Olympics qualifiers after a disappointing 2-1 defeat in extra-time against Equatorial Guinea on Sunday.
It is the second time in a row Nigeria will miss out on the event after they lost via a penalty lottery to Cameroon during London 2012 Olympic qualifying series.
The reigning African Champions suffered a 3-2 aggregate loss against the two-time African Women Championship winners in Bata, despite holding a 1-0 lead in the first half at the Estadio de Bata.
The Super Falcons impressed brightly from the start as they kept a healthy defensive structure to contain their hosts in the opening 15minutes.
In the 18th minute, Washington Spirit new capture Ngozi Okobi sneaked through and snatched the vital lead which handed the visitors a priceless away goal advantage.
The hosts scrabbled for a possible equaliser, but failed in their several attempts as coach Christopher Danjuma's defenders screwed up until the break.
In the second half, the Nigerian side restarted from where they stopped as they held on to their 1-0 lead till the 86th minute when the hosts netted an equaliser.
At extra time, the Super Falcons lost their defensive composure and were punished for it as the Nzalang Nacional made it 2-1 in the 112th minute of the first half.
The two-time African Champions held on jealously to their 2-1 lead and emerged the triumphant side at the blast of the whistle.
Earlier on Sunday, South Africa's Bayana Bayana sealed a final round spot after they defeated Kenya 1-0 at the Kenyatta Stadium to advance 2-0 on aggregate win.
Meanwhile, Equatorial Guinea will have to overcome the South Africa in the final round clash to book a ticket for the Rio 2016 Summer Olympics.
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