Nigeria’s Super Falcons are set for a crucial showdown today as they lock horns with the Copper Queens of Zambia in the quarterfinals of the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Casablanca, Morocco.
The highly anticipated clash will be played at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium, where the Falcons finished top of Group A with seven points, thanks to victories over Tunisia and Botswana and a goalless draw with Algeria.
Zambia, who claimed bronze in the last edition, also finished their group campaign with seven points, securing second place in a tough group that included host nation Morocco and Senegal.
Today’s encounter marks the fourth WAFCON meeting between the two teams. Nigeria had previously dominated the Zambians, with a 6-0 win in 2014 and a 4-0 triumph in 2018. However, Zambia turned the tide in 2022, edging Nigeria 1-0 in the third-place playoff.
The Super Falcons, led by coach Justine Madugu, are aiming to win their 10th continental title. Yet, questions remain about their consistency and attacking firepower. Despite scoring four goals in the group stage, the Nigerian side has yet to fully convince fans and pundits.
Chiwendu Ihezuo remains Nigeria’s top scorer with two goals, both coming from substitute appearances, while Esther Okoronkwo has delivered two assists and continues to influence games off the bench. However, it is the Falcons’ impressive defensive record that stands out, as they are yet to concede in the tournament.
That record will be tested today against Zambia’s dangerous duo of Barbra Banda and Racheal Kundananji. Both players have scored all three of Zambia’s goals so far and are widely regarded as two of the most lethal forwards in African football today.
Super Falcons defender Ashleigh Plumptre, who was named in the CAF team of the group stage, expressed confidence in the team’s ability to hold off Zambia’s attacking threat. “We do take pride as a whole team to defend well, and I think we defend as one and attack as one,” she said.
“We know that Zambia have really good attacking threats and we respect that, and we have prepared for that. We don’t prepare for two players, we prepare for Zambia as a whole.”
The winner of this quarterfinal will face either defending champions South Africa or the ever-improving Senegal in the semifinals scheduled for next Tuesday.
