Nigeria’s Super Falcons are through to the quarter-finals of the 2025 CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) after edging past a stubborn Botswana side with a hard-earned 1-0 victory in Casablanca on Thursday evening.
The breakthrough came just one minute before full-time when substitute Chinwendu Ihezuo finished off a slick move to break Botswana’s hearts and seal Nigeria’s second win of the tournament.
A Test of Patience and Persistence
Coming into the match on the back of a dominant 3-0 win over Tunisia, expectations were high for the nine-time African champions. But the clash at Stade Larbi Zaouli proved far more testing than anticipated.
Botswana, known as the Mares, came with a game plan—to sit deep, defend in numbers, and frustrate the Super Falcons. For most of the 90 minutes, it worked.
Nigeria controlled the tempo from the start, with Rasheedat Ajibade and Halimatu Ayinde orchestrating midfield play, but struggled to find clear openings. In the first half, Asisat Oshoala and Toni Payne both missed promising chances. In a close encounter, Botswana nearly shocked the Super Falcons early on when Refilwe Tholakele fired a volley that Nigeria’s goalkeeper, Chiamaka Nnadozie, brilliantly saved. Nnadozie recently transferred to Brighton & Hove Albion.
Despite dominating possession, Nigeria entered the break without a goal, and the mood among fans was tense.
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Botswana’s Resistance and Ihezuo’s Impact
After halftime, head coach Randy Waldrum made tactical changes, introducing fresh legs, including Esther Okoronkwo and Chinwendu Ihezuo, and it would prove a masterstroke.
The second half played out much like the first. Nigeria had the upper hand, Botswana held firm, and Sedilame Boseja, the Mares’ goalkeeper, delivered a string of saves, including a world-class stop to deny Jennifer Echegini in the 81st minute.
The clock ticked toward full-time. With Tunisia and Algeria having earlier drawn 0-0, a win for Nigeria would seal top spot in Group B and secure a place in the quarter-finals with a game to spare.
Then came the moment of magic. In the 89th minute, Okoronkwo broke free on the right and delivered a perfectly weighted low cross. Ihezuo timed her run to perfection, met the ball at the near post, and slotted it calmly past Boseja for her second goal of the tournament.
The relief was palpable. The Super Falcons’ bench erupted, the Nigerian section of the crowd roared, and the team finally celebrated the goal their dominance deserved.
Read: Nigeria Storms WAFCON Opener with 3–0 Triumph Over Tunisia
One Eye on the Knockouts, Another on Algeria
The win puts Nigeria top of Group B with six points from two matches, while Botswana remain bottom with no points and only one match left to play.
With the group’s final fixtures scheduled for Sunday, Nigeria will face Algeria, and Tunisia will take on Botswana. Regardless of the result against Algeria, the Super Falcons have already secured qualification to the knockout stage and could rest key players to prepare for tougher tests ahead.
However, the situation in Group B took an unexpected twist after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced an investigation into potential violations by Algeria. Depending on the findings, the group standings could be impacted—but for now, Nigeria’s quarter-final ticket is confirmed.
A Growing Threat in Ihezuo
For Chinwendu Ihezuo, this tournament could be a defining moment. The striker now has two goals in as many games and has made her case for a starting role.
Her physicality, awareness in the box, and calm finishing have added a different dimension to Nigeria’s attack, especially in moments when Oshoala is tightly marked or struggles to find space.
Coach Waldrum may now have a good kind of selection headache going into the business end of the tournament.