Nigeria’s Super Falcons will resume hostilities for a ninth Africa Women Cup of Nations (AWCON) after drawing the Gambia on Wednesday.
Thomas Dennerby endured a nightmare start to his reign with a miserable 8-0 defeat by France last week.
The international friendly debacle at Le Mans cracked the team’s can of worms for the Swede tactician.
They must avoid a repeat against their fellow West Africans to reach Ghana next year.
Falcons were given a first-round bye alongside Equatorial Guinea, South Africa and Cameroon.
Foes, the Gambia, lost 2-1 to Burkina Faso in their opening round leg encounter in Ouagadougou before turning it around on Tuesday in Bakau, forcing the game to penalties where they won 5-3 on aggregate.
The Gambia and Nigeria will face each other in June.
Meanwhile, 2016 AWCON runners-up, Cameroon, will take on Congo who defeated Central African Republic 3-1 on aggregate in the first round.
The seven winners of the second round will join hosts Ghana in the final tournament scheduled for 17 November to 1 December 2018.
The three top nations in the continental competition will qualify for the 2019 World Cup in France.
AWCON Second round qualifiers fixtures
Algeria vs Ethiopia
Ivory Coast vs Mali
Gambia vs Nigeria
Congo vs Cameroon
Kenya vs Equatorial Guinea
Lesotho vs South Africa
Zambia vs Zimbabwe
