Nigerian stars were in action across Europe as the UEFA Women’s Champions League qualifying matches continued, with Joy Omewa and Anam Imo finding the net, while Suliat Abideen’s heroics were not enough to save her side.
Suliat Abideen featured for the full 90 minutes and provided an assist for Turkish side Fomget GSK, but they suffered a 2-1 defeat against Czech giants Slavia Prague.
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The loss means Fomget drop into the third-place playoff, where they will face HJK Helsinki on Saturday for a ticket to the newly introduced UEFA Women’s Europa Cup.
Meanwhile, Anam Imo delivered a standout performance for Norwegian side Rosenborg, scoring twice in their emphatic 5-0 win over Ljuboten.
Imo struck in the 44th minute from the penalty spot and added her second in the 59th, with teammates F. A. Sjöström (52’), E. Larsson (80’, 90+1’) completing the rout.
Super Falcons midfielder Halimat Ayinde also impressed, playing 74 minutes in the victory.
Rosenborg will now face OH Leuven in Saturday’s second-round final for a place in the Champions League third round.
Joy Omewa was the hero for Fortuna Hjørring, scoring the equalizer in the 71st minute after Hibernian’s R. Boyle had opened the scoring in the 47th.
Fortuna sealed a dramatic 2-1 comeback win thanks to N. Nielsen’s stoppage-time strike in the 90+1 minute.
The victory sends Fortuna into the final, where they will face Switzerland’s Young Boys Ladies for a place in the next qualifying stage.
With Omewa and Imo powering their clubs closer to the Champions League third round, and Abideen now fighting for a Europa Cup berth, Nigerian women footballers continue to make their mark on the European stage.
The duo of Babajide Rinsola and Shukurat Moshood also secured a place for Roma in the final of the Round two after both players saw in 90 minutes of action in Roma 2-0 whitewashing of Kazakhstan FK Aktobe .
Roma will face Sparta Praha on Saturday in the final and a win will take them to the third round of the UEFA Champions League.
