WAFCON
Historic North African Derby as Tunisia Face Algeria in WAFCON Showdown
Tunisia and Algeria will make history on Thursday when they clash in their Group B fixture at the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), marking the first-ever meeting between the two North African neighbours at the continental showpiece.
The match, taking place at the Père Jégo Stadium in Casablanca, is only the second all-North African encounter in WAFCON history. The first occurred in 1998 when Morocco defeated Egypt 4-1 during the group stage in Nigeria.
Though separated by a 1,034-kilometre border stretching from the Mediterranean coast to the Sahara Desert, Tunisia and Algeria have never faced each other on this stage, setting the tone for a compelling and symbolic North African derby.
Tunisia enter the match in search of redemption following a heavy 3-0 loss to Nigeria in their opening group game. It was a difficult outing for the Carthage Eagles, who failed to muster a single shot on target, completed just 97 passes — their lowest ever in a WAFCON match — and held only 28% of possession, also a two-tournament low.
Their goalkeeper, Soulayma Jebrani, was the standout performer, making six saves from nine shots faced — the most she has registered in her five WAFCON appearances.
A second straight loss would mark the first time Tunisia have opened a WAFCON campaign with back-to-back defeats. They have never won a second group game at the finals, drawing 0-0 with Nigeria in 2008 and losing 1-0 to Zambia in 2022.
Algeria, on the other hand, began their campaign on a positive note, edging Botswana 1-0 to break a four-match winless run at the finals. A victory over Tunisia would put them in a strong position to qualify for the knockout stage.
With regional pride and critical qualification points on the line, this landmark North African derby promises to be both historic and fiercely contested.
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Nigeria and Botswana will meet for the second time at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) when they clash in their second Group B match at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca later this Thursday.
Their previous WAFCON encounter was also in the second group match of the 2022 edition.
Nigeria won 2-0 thanks to goals from Ifeoma Onumonu (21’) and Christy Ucheibe (48’). In that 2022 fixture, Nigeria came into the match having lost their opener to South Africa, while Botswana had started with a 4-2 win over Burundi.
Nigeria went on to beat both Botswana and Burundi, finishing second in the group behind South Africa.
Botswana lost their final two group matches but progressed as one of the best third-placed teams.
In the 2022 meeting, Botswana had just 26.3% possession against Nigeria, their lowest share in any WAFCON match to date.
Past WAFCON Meeting: Group C – 7 July 2022: Botswana 0–2 Nigeria (Onumonu 21’, Ucheibe 48’) BOTSWANA FACTS Lost their opening game 1-0 against Algeria. Are currently on a four-match losing streak at the finals.
Their last three defeats at the finals have all been by a one-goal margin (excluding repechage/play-off matches in 2022).
Their last WAFCON win came against Burundi in their 2024 opener. They have never kept a clean sheet at the finals, conceding in every match played.
This is only their second-ever second group match at WAFCON — the first was the 2-0 loss to Nigeria in 2022.
Botswana have scored just one goal in their last four WAFCON matches — that came in their 2-1 quarterfinal loss to Morocco in 2022.
Of Botswana’s five all-time WAFCON goals, four came in their 4-2 win over Burundi in 2022.
The other came against Morocco in the quarterfinals. Goalkeeper Sedilame Boseja made six saves in the 1-0 defeat to Algeria, matching her tally from the 2022 loss to Nigeria. All three of Botswana’s shots on target against Algeria came in the second half.
Nigeria began the 2024 tournament with a 3-0 win over Tunisia — their first opening-match win since 2016 (having lost in 2018 and 2022).
Nigeria have now won their last three WAFCON group games, scoring nine goals without conceding.
A win would mark Nigeria’s first back-to-back victories to start a tournament since 2014, when they beat Côte d’Ivoire 4-2 and Zambia 6-0.
If they keep a clean sheet, it will be the first time Nigeria go unbreached in their opening two matches since 1998 (8-0 vs Morocco and 6-0 vs DR Congo)
BOTSWANA FACTS
- Lost their opening game 1-0 against Algeria. They are now on a four-match losing streak at the finals.
- Their last three defeats at the finals have all been by a one-goal margin (excluding repechage/play-off matches in 2022).
- Their last WAFCON win came against Burundi in their 2024 opener.
- They have never kept a clean sheet at the finals, conceding in every match played.
- This is only their second-ever second group match at WAFCON — the first was the 2-0 loss to Nigeria in 2022.
- Botswana have scored just one goal in their last four WAFCON matches — that came in their 2-1 quarterfinal loss to Morocco in 2022.
- Of Botswana’s five all-time WAFCON goals, four came in their 4-2 win over Burundi in 2022.
- The other came against Morocco in the quarterfinals. Goalkeeper Sedilame Boseja made six saves in the 1-0 defeat to Algeria, matching her tally from the 2022 loss to Nigeria. All three of Botswana’s shots on target against Algeria came in the second half.
NIGERIA FACTS
- The Nigeria Super Falcons began the 2024 tournament with a 3-0 win over Tunisia — their first opening-match win since 2016 (having lost in 2018 and 2022).
- Nigeria have now won their last three WAFCON group games, scoring nine goals without conceding.
- A win this Thursday would mark Nigeria’s first back-to-back victories to start a tournament since 2014, when they beat Côte d’Ivoire 4-2 and Zambia 6-0.
- If they keep a clean sheet, it will be the first time Nigeria go unbreached in their opening two matches since 1998 (8-0 vs Morocco and 6-0 vs DR Congo).
- Nigeria’s record in second group matches at WAFCON: P12; W8 ; D3; L1. Their only defeat came in 2002 (0-1 vs Ghana).
- They have failed to win their second group game just three other times: 2-2 vs Cameroon (2004), 0-0 vs Tunisia (2008), 1-1 vs Ghana (2016).
- Nigeria have only twice failed to score in their second group match: the 2002 loss to Ghana and the 2008 draw with Cameroon.
- A win would be Nigeria’s 30th group stage victory in WAFCON history (P38 W29 D5 L3). Asisat Oshoala, who scored Nigeria’s opener against Tunisia, netted her 14th career WAFCON goal.
- She has now scored in four editions: 2014, 2016, 2018, and 2024. Nigeria had 24 goal attempts and 9 shots on target vs Tunisia — they faced no shots on target themselves. They completed 386 out of 465 attempted passes against Tunisia. Ashleigh Plumptre had a game-high 100 touches
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Nigeria and Botswana are set to renew their Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) rivalry when they face off in a crucial Group B encounter at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca on Thursday.
This marks the second WAFCON meeting between the two sides, with their previous clash coming in the group stage of the 2022 edition. On that occasion, Nigeria bounced back from an opening defeat to South Africa by securing a 2-0 victory over Botswana, courtesy of goals from Ifeoma Onumonu in the 21st minute and Christy Ucheibe early in the second half.
In that 2022 tournament, Botswana had begun their campaign with an impressive 4-2 win over Burundi, while Nigeria were seeking redemption after losing to the eventual group winners, South Africa. The Super Falcons went on to defeat both Botswana and Burundi, finishing second in the group, while Botswana advanced to the knockout stage as one of the best third-placed teams despite losing their final two group games.
That previous encounter remains a tactical benchmark, with Botswana managing only 26.3% possession — their lowest share in any WAFCON match to date — as Nigeria dominated proceedings.
Thursday’s fixture promises another intriguing chapter in the developing rivalry between the record nine-time champions Nigeria and a rapidly improving Botswana side aiming to upset the odds.
Past WAFCON Meeting:
Group C – 7 July, 2022: Botswana 0 Nigeria 2 (Onumonu 21’, Ucheibe 48’)
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Nine-time champions Nigeria will look to continue their dominant start at the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) when they face Botswana in their second Group B fixture on Thursday, aiming to secure back-to-back wins for the first time in a decade.
The Super Falcons began their campaign in emphatic fashion, cruising to a 3-0 victory over Tunisia — their first opening match win since 2016, after suffering defeats in their tournament openers in both 2018 and 2022. The result also extended Nigeria’s impressive group-stage form, having now won three consecutive WAFCON group games, scoring nine goals without conceding.
A win against Botswana would mark Nigeria’s best group-stage start since 2014, when they opened the tournament with wins over Côte d’Ivoire (4-2) and Zambia (6-0). More significantly, another clean sheet would make this the first time since 1998 that Nigeria go unbreached in their first two matches, replicating that year’s commanding 8-0 and 6-0 victories over Morocco and DR Congo respectively.
Historically, Nigeria have fared well in their second group matches, with a record of eight wins, three draws and just one loss in 12 appearances. Their only defeat came in 2002, a 0-1 upset against Ghana. The Falcons have also failed to find the net in a second group match on only two occasions — the 2002 loss to Ghana and a goalless draw with Tunisia in 2008.
Victory on Thursday would also mark Nigeria’s 30th group-stage win in WAFCON history, extending their remarkable record of 29 wins, five draws, and just three defeats in 38 matches.
Key to Nigeria’s strong start has been star forward Asisat Oshoala, who opened the scoring against Tunisia to register her 14th career goal at the tournament. The Barcelona striker has now scored in four different WAFCON editions — 2014, 2016, 2018, and 2024.
Against Tunisia, Nigeria fired 24 goal attempts and nine shots on target while not facing a single shot on goal themselves. The team also demonstrated impressive ball control, completing 386 of 465 passes, with defender Ashleigh Plumptre recording a game-high 100 touches.
With momentum on their side, Nigeria will be favourites to take another big step toward the knockout stage and reinforce their status as tournament favourites when they take on Botswana in Casablanca.
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