2025 WAFCON: Falcons Face Uphill Task Against Tough Foe

Posted : 17 July 2025

Nigeria and Zambia’s senior women’s national teams will put each other to a stern test on Friday in one of the most anticipated Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) quarter-final clashes in the tournament’s history.

Nine-time champions Nigeria dominated African women’s football throughout the 2000s and the past decade. However, the dominance is no longer guaranteed, as teams like South Africa, Morocco, and Zambia have grown significantly in strength, confidence, and overall organization over the past four years.

South Africa are the current holders of the title, having dashed Morocco’s dream in the 2022 final. En route to victory, they defeated the Super Falcons in their opening match and overcame a resilient Zambian side in the semi-finals.

Nigeria were edged out on penalties by Morocco in the 2022 semi-final after a 1-1 draw in regular time, forcing the Super Falcons into the bronze medal match. Zambia, previously overwhelmed 6-0 by Nigeria in Namibia (2014) and 4-0 in Ghana (2018), stunned the Falcons by defeating them in the third-place match three years ago in Morocco.

The African women’s football landscape continues to evolve, with more competitive teams like Senegal, Algeria, and Mali climbing the ranks. Ghana’s Black Queens, runners-up when Nigeria hosted the inaugural edition in 1998, have underwhelmed in recent years but made it to the quarter-finals this time around and remain a threat.

Friday’s encounter at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca promises fireworks—and possibly even more—as two ambitious teams fight for semi-final qualification with everything they’ve got.

Nigeria’s captain Rasheedat Ajibade and Saudi-based defender Ashleigh Plumptre were both named in the Best XI of the group stage, alongside Zambia’s trio of Lushomo Mweemba, Barbra Banda, and Racheal Kundananji. Also included in the elite team were Algeria’s goalkeeper Chloé N’gazi-Boumrar, South Africa’s Bambanani Mbane, Fikile Magama, and Refiloe Jane, Senegal’s Nguenar Ndiaye, and Morocco’s captain Ghizlane Chebbak.

Nigeria’s head coach Justine Madugu said:

“We have our strategies; we’ve studied them closely and understand what they’re capable of. We’ll work on neutralizing their strengths. We respect them, but we’re focused and preparing with a clear game plan for match day.”

His Zambian counterpart, Nora Häuptle, remarked:

“We’re in a good place with five days of rest. It gives us time to recover, refresh, and assess. If you want to reach the final and win this competition, you must be ready to beat the best.”

These statements reflect just how much is riding on this single game, already considered one of the defining moments of WAFCON 2025.

Nigeria’s Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Said Ahmad, and the Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism, and Creative Economy, Hajia Hannatu Musa Musawa, have also expressed their full support for the Super Falcons.

The team will be boosted by the return of midfield maestro Deborah Abiodun, who was suspended for the last match against Algeria. Esther Okoronkwo may get her first start of the tournament, joining the composed and efficient Jennifer Echegini in midfield.

There is no easy path to the final. The winner between Nigeria and Zambia will face another major challenge in the semi-finals—either reigning champions South Africa or the impressive Senegalese team.

2025 WAFCON: Falcons Face Uphill Task Against Tough Foe

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