WAFCON 2024: Wasteful Super Falcons Edge Past Resilient Botswana

By Arinzechi Chukwunonso

Nigeria’s Super Falcons secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Botswana on Thursday to keep their hopes alive in the race for a WAFCON 2025 knockout spot. After a commanding 3-0 win against Tunisia in their opener, the Falcons approached the game with high confidence. Coach Justin Madugu stuck with the same lineup, expecting a similar dominant display.

However, the match turned out to be a tough test. Botswana’s team showed impressive resilience and organization, frustrating the nine-time African champions with a disciplined defensive setup. Despite dominating possession and creating numerous scoring opportunities, Nigeria struggled to convert their chances, and Botswana’s goalkeeper stood out with a string of crucial saves.

The breakthrough finally came in the 87th minute when Chiwendu Ihezuo found the net, securing a late winner for the Super Falcons and ensuring their progression to the quarter-finals. Nigeria now leads Group B with six points, ahead of Algeria with four. The Falcons will face Algeria in their final group match, while Botswana takes on Tunisia.