WAFCON 2024: Nigeria’s Super Falcons whip Zambia to reach semi-final
Nigeria’s Super Falcons delivered a dominant display on Friday, crushing Zambia’s Copper Queens 5-0 to book a place in the semi-finals of the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco.
The emphatic win marks Nigeria’s best performance of the tournament so far and avenges their 1-0 loss to Zambia in the third-place match of the 2022 edition.
The nine-time African champions will now face the winner of the quarter-final clash between defending champions South Africa and Senegal for a place in the final.
Nigeria took control of the game early, netting three goals in the first half to all but seal the match. Veteran defender Osinachi Ohale opened the scoring just two minutes into the game, heading home a free kick from Esther Okoronkwo.
Okoronkwo doubled the lead in the 33rd minute, finishing off a long ball from captain Rasheedat Ajibade. Striker Chinwendu Ihezuo added a third just before halftime, powering a shot past the Zambian goalkeeper from inside the box.
Despite Zambia’s efforts to regroup after the break, Nigeria maintained pressure and exposed defensive gaps. Tosin Demehin scored the fourth goal in the 68th minute with a header off another Okoronkwo free kick.
Ajibade capped off her impressive performance with a blistering run down the flank, delivering a low cross for substitute Folashade Ijamilusi to tap into an open net for Nigeria’s fifth goal.
The Super Falcons have now kept four consecutive clean sheets in the competition, with their defence, led by Ohale, proving resolute once again.
