Super Falcons advance as Mali withdraw from Olympic qualifier

Super Falcons have advanced to the third round of 2016 Rio Olympic Games qualifying round after Mali’s Eagles pulled out of the campaign.

The African champions were billed to host their West African neighbour in the first leg of the encounter on Saturday at the Abuja National Stadium.

However, Mali wrote the Nigeria Football Federation, through FIFA, of their unavailability for the match.

“We would like to urgently share with you that the Mali Football Federation has just formally notified FIFA of the withdrawal of its women’s national team from the Olympic qualifiers,” wrote Gordon Savic, head of FIFA World Cup and Olympics qualifiers, to NFF.

“By way of consequence, both leg matches of the 2nd round are cancelled and your women’s national team is automatically qualified for the 3rd round matches. Further details regarding the 3rd round will follow in due course.”

The third round of the qualifiers will be played in July and the final round is scheduled for October 2015.

The Super Falcons had earlier beaten Mali 8-0 in the return leg of the 2015 All-Africa Games qualifier in April after both teams played out a 1-1 draw in Bamako.

Meanwhile, the Edwin Okon-tutored team will jet out to Canada next week for a training tour ahead of the FIFA Women’s World Cup, which starts on June 6.

The Super Falcons are drawn in Group D with Sweden, Australia and USA.