Nigeria’s Super Falcons secured their place in the quarter-finals of the 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over a resilient Botswana side in a Group B clash on Wednesday.

The narrow win, achieved at the dying moments of the game, ensured the defending champions maintain their perfect start to the tournament and move to the top of their group with six points from two matches. They are now guaranteed a spot in the last eight, regardless of the outcome of their final group game against Algeria on Sunday.

Botswana, despite their spirited defensive display, extended their unwanted WAFCON record of never having kept a clean sheet. The Mares, led by outstanding goalkeeper and captain Sedilame Boseja, frustrated Nigeria’s dominant attack for most of the game. Boseja pulled off several crucial saves to deny the Super Falcons, who created chance after chance in a relentless offensive push.

However, just one minute before the end of regulation time, Nigeria finally broke through. Second-half substitute Chinwendu Ihezuo found herself in the right place at the right time to tap home the winner, breaking Botswana’s resistance and sealing all three points for the Super Falcons.

The result reaffirms Nigeria’s status as favourites to retain their WAFCON title, while Botswana will need a positive result in their final group game to keep hopes alive of progressing beyond the group stage.

Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H

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

Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H

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.

Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H