Nigeria Advances to WAFCON Quarterfinals with Narrow Victory Over Botswana
Nigeria’s Super Falcons secured their spot in the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinals following a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Botswana at Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca on Tuesday.
Substitute striker Ihezuo delivered the decisive blow with a late goal that broke the deadlock against a resilient Botswana side. The narrow margin reflected Botswana’s determined defensive display throughout the match, forcing Nigeria to work harder than expected for their second consecutive win.
The victory maintains Nigeria’s perfect record in Group B, collecting 6 points from 2 matches played. This unbeaten streak positions the Super Falcons as group leaders heading into the final round of fixtures, giving them significant momentum for the knockout stages.
Nigeria’s qualification represents their continued dominance in African women’s football, though Botswana’s competitive performance suggests the gap between traditional powers and emerging nations is narrowing. The Super Falcons will now prepare for the quarterfinal stage, where they’ll face one of the other group winners or best-performing runners-up.
The tournament continues to showcase the growing quality of women’s football across Africa, with several matches producing unexpected results and competitive encounters. Nigeria’s advancement keeps alive their hopes of claiming another continental title and securing qualification for the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
