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Points to Note Ahead of Botswana-Nigeria clash at WAFCON

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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.

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 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.

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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.

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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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Kunle Solaja is the author of landmark books on sports and journalism as well as being a multiple award-winning journalist and editor of long standing. He is easily Nigeria’s foremost soccer diarist and Africa's most capped FIFA World Cup journalist, having attended all FIFA World Cup finals from Italia ’90 to Qatar 2022. He was honoured at the Qatar 2022 World Cup by FIFA and AIPS.

WAFCON

Super Falcons Eye 30th WAFCON Group Win as They Face Botswana

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BY KUNLE SOLAJA.

Nigeria’s Super Falcons will be looking to extend their impressive record in second group matches at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) when they take on Botswana this Thursday in Casablanca.

Historically dominant at this stage of the competition, the Super Falcons have won eight of their 12 second group games at WAFCON, drawing three and losing just once. That solitary defeat came on home soil in 2002 — a 1-0 loss to Ghana, marking the first time Nigeria lost a match to another African team.

Since then, Nigeria have remained a consistent performer in their second group fixtures. The only other times they failed to win were a 2-2 draw with Cameroon in 2004, a goalless draw with Tunisia in 2008, and a 1-1 stalemate against Ghana in 2016.

 Notably, the team has only twice failed to score in a second group match — during the losses to Ghana in 2002 and the draw with Cameroon in 2008.

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Victory against Botswana would mark Nigeria’s 30th group stage win in WAFCON history, having played 38 matches (W29 D5 L3) — an unparalleled achievement on the continent.

The Super Falcons started their 2024 campaign in style with a commanding 3-0 win over Tunisia. Barcelona star Asisat Oshoala scored the opener to register her 14th career WAFCON goal, having now scored in four different editions — 2014, 2016, 2018, and 2024.

Nigeria were dominant throughout the match, registering 24 goal attempts and nine shots on target, while preventing Tunisia from testing their goalkeeper. They also completed 386 of 465 attempted passes, with defender Ashleigh Plumptre leading the way with a game-high 100 touches.

As they prepare to face Botswana, the Super Falcons will be confident of maintaining their strong tradition in second group games — and taking one step closer to another title run.

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Historic North African Derby as Tunisia Face Algeria in WAFCON Showdown

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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.

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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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WAFCON

WAFCON 2025: Nigeria, Botswana Set for Group B Rematch in Casablanca

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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.

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Past WAFCON Meeting:
Group C – 7 July, 2022: Botswana 0 Nigeria 2 (Onumonu 21’, Ucheibe 48’)

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