WAFCON
WAFCON 2024: Nigeria’s Ihezuo in Golden Boot Chase as Falcons Look to Break Goal Drought
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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By Kunle Solaja.
The 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations has been postponed, with Africa’s football governing body announcing new dates for the tournament in Morocco.
The Confederation of African Football confirmed that the 2026 edition of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) will now take place from 25 July to 16 August 2026, instead of the earlier scheduled dates of 17 March to 3 April 2026.
Morocco was awarded the hosting rights for the continental showpiece in October 2024, with preparations already underway for what is expected to be one of the biggest editions of the competition. It doubles as the qualification tournament for the Women’s World Cup, as the top four finishers will feature in the global event.
CAF said the decision to move the tournament followed consultations with FIFA and other key stakeholders.
In a statement, CAF explained that the adjustment was made “to ensure the success of this important women’s competition, in the light of certain unforeseen circumstances.”
Although the organisation did not elaborate on the nature of those circumstances, the rescheduling shifts the tournament to the traditional mid-year international football window, which is often more favourable for player availability and logistics.
The Women’s Africa Cup of Nations is the continent’s flagship women’s football competition and serves as a crucial platform for the development and visibility of the women’s game in Africa.
Morocco, which successfully hosted the 2022 edition of the tournament, is expected to leverage its modern stadium infrastructure and growing reputation as a major football events destination to deliver another high-profile competition.
CAF expressed confidence that the revised schedule will allow all stakeholders to adequately prepare for the tournament.
“Preparations for the WAFCON 2026 are underway, and all the parties are confident that it will be very successful,” the governing body stated.
The tournament will bring together Africa’s top women’s national teams competing for continental supremacy, with the rescheduling expected to give organisers additional time to ensure optimal preparations for the event.
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The Confederation of African Football has announced that it will issue an official communication within the next 48 hours regarding the situation surrounding the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations 2026.
In a brief message posted on social media, CAF indicated that the matter has been under extensive discussion in recent weeks and is currently receiving urgent attention at the highest levels of the organisation.
“CAF will communicate within the next 48 hours on the situation regarding the #TotalEnergiesWAFCON26. There have been several discussions over the past weeks. The matter is receiving urgent and high-level attention,” the confederation stated.
Although CAF did not provide specific details about the issue under review, the statement suggests that senior officials within the continental governing body are working toward a resolution.
The development has sparked anticipation across the African football community, particularly among national teams preparing for the women’s continental championship.
The Confederation of African Football is expected to clarify the circumstances and outline the next steps for the tournament when it releases its official update within the stipulated timeframe.
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Reigning African champions Nigeria produced a commanding response, defeating Cameroon 3–1 on Tuesday in the second of their pre-WAFCON international friendlies in Yaounde.
Three days after suffering a narrow 1–0 loss at the Military Stadium, the Super Falcons returned to the same venue. They delivered a far more assured performance, underlining their pedigree as perennial continental powerhouses.
Head Coach Justin Madugu rang the changes, making seven alterations to the starting line-up that featured in Saturday’s defeat. However, it was Cameroon who struck first again, netting in the seventh minute to momentarily raise concerns of a repeat setback.
Nigeria responded with composure and growing authority.
Forward Chinwendu Ihezuo restored parity in the 32nd minute, rising above her marker to power home a header from a well-delivered cross by Rinsola Babajide. The equaliser settled the Falcons, who began to dictate tempo and press with greater coordination.
Just before the break, the comeback was completed. After a scramble inside the Cameroonian box, Babajide reacted quickest to fire home in the 43rd minute, turning provider into scorer to give Nigeria a 2–1 lead at halftime.
Madugu’s reshaped midfield proved decisive, pressing higher up the pitch, shutting down central channels and forcing the Lionesses into speculative long balls.
The Falcons extended their advantage in the 64th minute. Captain Rasheedat Ajibade, influential down the right flank, delivered a teasing cross into the penalty area. Michelle Alozie attacked the ball with conviction, launching into a flying header that made it 3–1 and effectively sealed the contest.
Both sides treated the two-match series as crucial preparation for the 14th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations scheduled to take place in Morocco from March 17 to April 3.
For Nigeria, the emphatic victory not only avenged Saturday’s defeat but also reaffirmed their status as Africa’s benchmark in women’s football heading into the continental showpiece.
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