Nigeria beat South Africa 1-0 on aggregate to reach the Summer Olympics.
Rasheedat Ajibade scored from the spot in the first leg of the qualifiers in Abuja on Friday.
That goal was enough for the Super Falcons to pick one of Africa’s tickets for the women’s football event of the Paris Olympics as the second leg tie ended goaless in South Africa.
The last time Nigeria’s Super Falcons reached the Olympics was 16 years ago.
Both teams have played several times since their 7-1 win against South Africa in a 1995 World Cup qualifier in Johannesburg. They have met 24 times with Nigeria winning 15, five ended in draws and South Africa claimed victory four times.
The Falcons dominated the match in the early stages. They held on to the ball, with the South African attack barely troubling Nigeria’s makeshift centre-back pairing of Christy Ucheibe and Osinachi Ohale.
Chiwendu Ihezuo was handed an opportunity, but her header off a Deborah Abiodun cross trailed wide.
The match settled for a cagey battle in the midfield, with chances few for both teams.
Chimaka Nnadozie was a domineering presence in the air as she mopped up the South Africans’ crosses before they escalated into danger for Nigeria.
Nigeria held on for a vital draw and secured a berth to represent Africa in Paris later this year.
The Falcons will be playing at the Olympics for the fourth time. They qualified for the competition in 2000, 2004 and 2008.
The 2024 Olympics is billed to take place in Paris, France, from July 26 to August 11, 2024.