By Our Correspondent

Nigeria’s senior female national team, the Super Falcons, will, for the umpteenth time, not participate in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, bestchoicesports.com.ng.

This is because the team, Monday, in Agege, Lagos, Nigeria failed to defeat a resolute Cote’d’Voire ladies who came with a game plan to frustrate the nine-time Africa champions.

The ominous signed was shown when the Ivorians took the lead in the 12th minute needing Asisat Oshoala to rescue the team on 37th minute before the interval.

The second half saw no goals as the Ivorians sat back to soak all pressure mounted by the Falcons to salvage the country from the imminent national odium.

There was drama as the Super Falcons were eliminated on the away goal rule after their second leg second round clash against Cote d’ Ivoire on a 1-1 draw after the first leg ended on a goalless stalemate.

The Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, officials in a desperate move to save the embarrassing situation and their counterparts from Cote d’ Ivoire had to crosscheck what the FIFA and CAF rules say on away goals to decide outcomes of two legged fixtures.

After the centre referee added five minutes and the goal refused to come, chieftains of the Nigeria football federation present at the stadium, allegedly asked the center referee to stay action until they get a confirmation from CAF and FIFA as to whether away goals rules count in the Olympic qualifiers.

They succeeded in putting calls across to the powers that be in CAF AND FIFA and were told in plain words that the rules have not changed.

Everyone at the stadium were waiting anxiously for the referee’s verdict and when it finally came, it was heart breaking and devastating for Nigerians.

In the game proper, the Falcons started the game on a promising note as Gift Monday let fly a shot at the edge of the Ivorian box but agonizingly missed target.

However the guests scored in the 12th minute as a free-kick by Kapho Nana beat goalkeeper Nnadozie.

Ange N’guessan went close to doubling the advantage for the Ivorian side but Asisat Oshoala restored parity for Nigeria in the 34th minute when she latched onto a through pass.

Rasheedat Ajibade received a pass as the Falcons enjoyed some moments of possession early in the second half but her final touch let her down while a Francisca Ordega shot cannoned off the cross bar in the 57th minute albeit she was flagged offside.

This the 3rd time the Super Falcons are missing out in the Olympic football event since Beijing Games in 2008.