Super Falcons Edge Botswana, Advance to WAFCON Quarter-Finals

Nigeria’s Super Falcons have secured their place in the quarter-finals of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON 2025) after a tightly contested 1–0 victory over Botswana at Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca.

The breakthrough came late in the match when substitute Chinwendu Ihezuo struck in the 88th minute, calmly redirecting a precise cross from Esther Okoronkwo into the goal. It was her second goal in as many games, following her opener against Tunisia—critical proof of her rising impact.

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Despite dominating possession, Nigeria struggled to break through Botswana’s disciplined defence. Coach Justine Madugu responded by introducing Ihezuo, Christy Ucheibe, and Okoronkwo at halftime—changes that ultimately paid off.

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Madugu described the match as “hard-fought” and “highly competitive”, acknowledging Botswana’s resilience and the need for the Falcons to sharpen up.

While FIFA celebrated Nigeria’s quarter-final qualification with an enthusiastic the performance was met with mixed reactions back home. Some fans took aim at the tactical execution, with local media highlighting concerns about the team struggling against lower-ranked opposition