Chinwendu Ihezuo was once again the hero for the Super Falcons as her late goal secured a second straight victory for Nigeria at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco on Thursday.
The hard-fought 1–0 win over Botswana saw the Nigerian side book their place in the quarterfinals with six points from two games.
Head coach Justin Madugu opted to maintain the same starting lineup that triumphed over Tunisia in their opening fixture. However, the team struggled to break through a well-organised Botswana defence during a frustrating first half that saw few clear-cut chances.
Recognizing the need for a tactical shift, Madugu made strategic changes in the second half, bringing on Esther Okoronkwo and Chinwendu Ihezuo. Their presence revitalized Nigeria’s attacking momentum, adding pace and pressure to Botswana’s tiring backline.
The breakthrough came in the 88th minute. After sustained pressure in the opposition’s half, a loose ball fell kindly to Ihezuo, who made no mistake in converting from close range, sending the Nigerian bench into wild celebration. It was a decisive moment that not only sealed the win but also cemented Nigeria’s status as one of the tournament’s front-runners.
The goal marked Ihezuo’s second of the competition, adding to her earlier strike in the Falcons’ 3–0 opening victory against Tunisia. She now stands out as a key figure in Nigeria’s title ambitions.
Despite the narrow margin, Nigeria could have added more goals. Ashleigh Plumptre and Esther Okoronkwo both came close to scoring, but were denied by an impressive Botswana goalkeeper, who kept her side in the game until the closing stages.
The Super Falcons will round off their group stage campaign on Sunday with a clash against Algeria, aiming to finish as group leaders and maintain momentum going into the knockout rounds.
What you should know
Chinwendu Ihezuo’s late goal lifted Nigeria to a 1–0 win over Botswana and secured a spot in the quarterfinals of WAFCON 2025. The striker now has two goals in two matches.
Coach Justin Madugu’s tactical substitutions proved pivotal as the Falcons gear up to face Algeria in their final group game.
