Nigeria’s Head Coach, Justine Madugu, says the Super Falcons are mentally, psychologically, and tactically primed for Friday’s blockbuster Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) quarterfinal clash against Zambia’s Copper Queens.

Speaking ahead of the much-anticipated encounter at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca, Madugu expressed confidence in his team’s preparation and focus, stating that the Nigerian side has studied their Zambian opponents and are leaving nothing to chance.

“We are working on our strategies both offensively and defensively,” Madugu said. “We’ve watched Zambia play, we’ve analysed their strengths and weaknesses individually and as a unit. We know their key players and the threats they pose if given space. Our players are fully aware — there will be no room for errors.”

The encounter, which kicks off at 5:00 p.m. local time (same as Nigerian time), is being described by analysts as a potential tournament-defining fixture — a clash that could reshape the power dynamics in African women’s football.

Madugu emphasized the importance of focus and belief as Nigeria edges closer to what he described as “Mission X” — a bid to capture a record-extending 10th continental title.

“We must be alert at all times, have self-belief and confidence, and be motivated to achieve victory. Every player understands the task at hand,” he added.

High Stakes, Fierce Rivals

Nigeria, the most successful team in WAFCON history, are seeking to reassert their dominance after emerging from a solid group stage campaign. Zambia, meanwhile, are widely seen as one of the continent’s rising forces, having earned respect with their consistent growth and eye-catching performances in recent tournaments.

Friday’s quarterfinal is expected to produce fireworks — and the implications go beyond just qualification. A win for either team would send a clear message about who holds sway in African women’s football.

The victor will move on to face the winner of another heavyweight clash between reigning champions South Africa and Senegal.

The other semifinal bracket features host nation Morocco and Algeria, adding more intrigue to a tournament that has delivered drama and quality in equal measure.

For Nigeria, victory on Friday would not only take them one step closer to a 10th title but would also reaffirm their pedigree as the team to beat on the continent — a legacy they’ve built since the inaugural edition of the competition in 1998.

As the countdown continues, all eyes turn to Casablanca, where two African giants will battle for glory, pride, and a place in the WAFCON semifinals.

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By KUNLE SOLAJA.

As the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) enters its decisive knockout phase, attention is not only on who will lift the trophy, but also on who will emerge as the tournament’s top scorer.

 For Nigeria’s Super Falcons, however, the Golden Boot race has largely unfolded from the sidelines, with Chinwendu Ihezuo standing as the team’s sole contender, and a distant one at that.

Chinwendu Ihezuo also chasing Golden Boot

With just four goals scored in three matches, the usually free-scoring Falcons have been surprisingly goal-shy at this year’s tournament.

 While their famed defence has kept clean sheets in all three group games, the attacking unit has struggled to fire consistently.

 Ihezuo, with two goals to her name, remains the brightest hope for Nigeria in the scoring race, even if she currently trails the frontrunners.

Leading the pack are Morocco’s Ghizlane Chebbak and Senegal’s Nguenar Ndiaye, who have each scored four goals.

Chebbak, the 2022 Golden Boot winner and captain of the host nation, netted a hat-trick in Morocco’s 4-2 win over DR Congo.

Ndiaye, on the other hand, has been a model of consistency, scoring twice each in Senegal’s matches against Zambia and DR Congo.

Zambia’s Barbra Banda and Racheal Kundananji, both with three goals, are also firmly in the mix — and pose a clear and present danger to Nigeria as the two teams prepare to face off in Friday’s quarter-final clash.

Banda opened her account with the fastest goal of the tournament — just 58 seconds into the opener against Morocco — while Kundananji has scored in every group game, underlining the threat posed by the Zambian frontline.

Nigeria’s backline, however, has proven unbreachable so far, and the Super Falcons will be banking on that solid foundation while hoping the attack comes to life — particularly through Ihezuo. The striker has shown flashes of her quality and could still emerge as a surprise contender for the Golden Boot if Nigeria go far into the tournament.

Lurking in the second tier of scorers are several players with two goals, including Senegal’s Mama Diop, Ghana’s Alice Kusi, and Morocco’s Yasmine Mrabet.

Like Ihezuo, they will need a prolific showing in the knockout rounds to mount a serious challenge for the scoring crown.

For now, the Super Falcons remain defensively resolute but offensively cautious — a situation the coaching staff will want to address quickly as the tournament intensifies.

A goal surge from Ihezuo or another Falcons forward could not only reignite their Golden Boot hopes but also boost Nigeria’s chances of reclaiming continental dominance.

With every match now potentially decisive, the Super Falcons’ journey — and Ihezuo’s chase for individual honours — continues with high stakes and high expectations.

Top Scorers After Group Stage:

• Ghizlane Chebbak (Morocco) – 4 goals
• Nguenar Ndiaye (Senegal) – 4 goals
• Barbra Banda (Zambia) – 3 goals
• Racheal Kundananji (Zambia) – 3 goals
• Mama Diop (Senegal) – 2 goals
• Chinwendu Ihezuo (Nigeria) – 2 goals
• Alice Kusi (Ghana) – 2 goals
• Yasmine Mrabet (Morocco) – 2 goals

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Two of Africa’s fiercest women’s football rivals, Nigeria and Zambia, will collide in a high-stakes quarterfinal showdown at the 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) on Friday, in what is being hailed as one of the most anticipated clashes in the tournament’s history.

The encounter, scheduled for the Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca, carries immense weight—not just for a place in the semifinals but as a barometer of shifting power dynamics in African women’s football.

Nine-time champions Nigeria, long the undisputed queens of the continent, are no longer assured of easy passage.

While they dominated African women’s football for over two decades, the rise of formidable sides like South Africa, Morocco, and particularly Zambia in recent years has made the terrain far more competitive.

Zambia’s Copper Queens, once easily overpowered by Nigeria—6-0 in Namibia (2014) and 4-0 in Ghana (2018)—flipped the script in 2022 by defeating the Super Falcons in the bronze medal match in Morocco.

Their rise has been marked by improved structure, belief, and attacking firepower, embodied by players like Barbra Banda and Rachael Kundananji.

The Nigerian team, under coach Justine Madugu, remains resolute. “We have our strategies; we’ve studied Zambia closely. We know their threats, and we’ll be ready with the right antidote,” Madugu said confidently.

Esther Okoronkwo and Ashleigh Plumptre at training on Tuesday.

His counterpart, Swiss-born Nora Häuptle, who leads Zambia, welcomed the five-day rest advantage and sounded a warning. “Whoever we face, we’ll be ready. To reach and win the final, you must beat the best.”

Both sides are loaded with firepower and flair. Nigeria’s Rasheedat Ajibade and Ashleigh Plumptre were named in the tournament’s Best XI for the group stage, alongside Zambia’s star trio—defender Lushomo Mweemba, prolific striker Barbra Banda, and the dynamic Rachael Kundananji.

The elite list also includes Algeria’s goalkeeper Chloe N’gazi-Boumrar, South Africa’s Bambanani Mbane, Fikile Magama and Refiloe Jane, Senegal’s Nguenar Ndiaye, and Morocco captain Ghizlane Chebbak.

The return of Nigeria’s midfield engine Deborah Abiodun from suspension is expected to add grit and creativity, while Esther Okoronkwo could earn her first start alongside the calm and clinical Jennifer Echegini.

Nigerian government officials, including the Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Said Ahmad, and the Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism, and Creative Economy, Hajia Hannatu Musa Musawa, have expressed strong support for the Super Falcons, urging them to rise to the occasion.

The clash is expected to be a tactical and emotional rollercoaster—a true test of credentials for two of Africa’s most ambitious sides. The winner will face either reigning champions South Africa or the ever-spirited Senegalese team in the semifinals on Tuesday.

With continental pride, legacy, and a path to the final on the line, fireworks are guaranteed. But in a match of this magnitude, lightning and thunder may not be far behind.

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