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BBC News
7 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Nigeria vs Algeria Wafcon 2024 match preview
Di Super Falcons of Nigeria and di La vertes of Algeria go clash for di ongoing Women Africa Cup of Nations on Sunday. Di final Group B match go happun for di Larbi Zaouli stadium, Casablanca around 20: 00 (8:00pm) local time. While di Super Falcons of Nigeria don already qualify for di quarter-finals dem dey hope to beat Algeria to finish strong and top Group B. For di La vertes dey also hope to top di group if dem win di match against Nigeria. Nigeria get six points afta dem win Tunisia and Botswana while Algeria get four points afta dem beat Botswana and play goalless draw wit Tunisia. Tunisia get only one point while Botswana get zero point. Match facts Nigeria don reach di knockout stage of all di 13 Wafcon editions. Na di first time since 2014 dem dey start wit back to back wins. Dem neva lose any final group stage match for Wafcon. Chinwendu Ihezuo donscore for di two matches wen she come from bench. If Nigeria win dem go complete 100 percent group stage win record for di seventh time. Algeria don get 4 points from dis Wafcon, dia best return for a single edition. Dem don already qualify for di quarter-finals but if dem win dem go end as group winners. Dem don lose dia final group game for wach of di Wafon editions. Dem fit finish di group stage witout any lose for dis first time. Wetin di coaches tok Algeria Algeria Coach Farid Benstiti wey don dey coach di team since 2023 tok say " We want to come out strong to beat Nigeria so dat pipo go take us serious for di quarter-finals." Di former head coach of di PSG women's team, dey come wit plenti experience. Since im take ova di team, Algeria don shown signs of progress, among di tins im don achieve na to qualify for di 2024 Wafcon finals afta dem miss di ast two editions. Nigeria Nigeria Super Falcons coach, Justin Madugu tell tori pipo say wen teams go out to play for competitions pipo dey always come up wit different records but dat one no be our major worry for now. Di most important record na to win all your games and set di most important record at di end of di tournament. But na good tin say di team no dey concede goals, e show say we dey strong for defence. We need to work on areas wey we know say we need to do beta as we dey improve wit subsequent games." E dey expected say coach Justin Madugu fit field some first-timers wey fit help Nigeria Super Falcons sustain dia legacy for dis Wafcon 2024. Dis na Algeria sixth appearance for di tournament. Even though dem dey consistent to qualify evritime, dis Les Vertes still dey struggle to establish diasef as one of di biggest sides for di continent. Stats show say dem neva pass di group stage bifor, and dis fit be di first time dem go pass di group stage while dia opponent Nigeria na nine - time winners. We dey bring una live updates for here
CAF
11-07-2025
- Sport
- CAF
Nigeria into quarter-finals as Ihezuo sinks battling Botswana
Published: Thursday, 10 July 2025 A late goal from Chinwendu Ihezuo was enough to secure Nigeria's place in the quarter-finals of the 2025 TotalEnergies CAF Women's Africa Cup of Nations as the Super Falcons edged past a spirited Botswana side 1-0 in Casablanca on Thursday. In a tightly contested encounter at the Stade Larbi Zaouli, Ihezuo's composed 89th-minute finish finally broke the resistance of the Mares, who had frustrated the nine-time champions for much of the game with a disciplined defensive display and outstanding goalkeeping from captain Sedilame Boseja. Nigeria, who had thumped Tunisia 3-0 in their opener, were made to work far harder by a Botswana side determined to bounce back from a narrow 1-0 defeat to Algeria. Despite dominating possession and territory, Nigeria struggled to create clear-cut chances in the first half. Asisat Oshoala and Toni Payne both squandered opportunities before the break, while Botswana nearly took a shock lead through Balothany Johannes and Laone Moloi, whose efforts forced saves from Chiamaka Nnadozie. Justin Madugu made a triple change at half-time, introducing Christy Ucheibe, Esther Okoronkwo and Chinwendu Ihezuo to inject fresh energy—and the move proved decisive. Nigeria gradually upped the pressure in the second half, with Ashleigh Plumptre's delivery and Deborah Abiodun's drive keeping Botswana pinned back. Ihezuo went close with a header just after the break before eventually finding the net in the dying minutes, slotting home after good work in the buildup. Boseja, who had made several crucial stops, could do little to deny the winner after 88 minutes of resistance. Botswana offered little in response as fatigue set in, and the Super Falcons calmly saw out the win. With two wins from two and yet to concede a goal, Nigeria top Group B and are safely through to the knockout stages with a game to spare. Botswana, meanwhile, remain without a point and must defeat Tunisia in their final match to have any chance of advancing. While Nigeria's display lacked fluency at times, their experience and squad depth ultimately made the difference. For Botswana, it was another performance full of heart—but lacking reward.
BBC News
10-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Nigeria win to book spot in Wafcon quarter-finals
Nigeria scored a late winner against Botswana to become the first side to book a place in the quarter-finals at the 2024 Women's Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon).Chinwendu Ihezuo netted the only goal in Casablanca with two minutes remaining when she pounced on a right-wing low cross by fellow substitute Esther Okoronkwo and bundled the ball home past Botswana goalkeeper Sedilame put Nigeria top of Group B, with their perfect record assuring them of a top-two finish, after North African rivals Tunisia and Algeria played out a 0-0 draw earlier on are second in the group table on four points, with Tunisia in third after securing their first point at this year's have lost both their games and are on the brink of an early exit, having reached the quarter-finals on their debut in final round of group fixtures will see Nigeria face Algeria and Tunisia take on Botswana on Sunday, with both games kicking off at 19:00 GMT.
BBC News
06-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Nigeria begin Wafcon bid with routine win over Tunisia
Nigeria kicked off their quest for a record-extending 10th Women's Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) title with a confident 3-0 victory over Tunisia in Barcelona forward Asisat Oshoala opened scoring for the Super Falcons in the fourth minute when the 30-year-old pounced on a low in-swinging free-kick delivered by Rinsola Babajide from the left flank and bundled the ball home amidst a scramble in the Tunisian who previously featured for England at youth level before switching allegiance to Nigeria in 2023, doubled the lead in the first minute of first-half stoppage winger fired clinically past Tunisia goalkeeper Soulaima Jobrani, marking her first ever goal at a senior international Ihezuo got Nigeria's third at the Stade Larbi Zaouli with six minutes remaining after converting a cross from Ashleigh win places Nigeria top of Group B ahead of Sunday's late game between Algeria and Botswana (19:00 GMT).Nigeria will face Botswana at the Stade Larbi Zaouli on Thursday, with Tunisia seeking their first point against North African rivals to follow.
