Super Falcons Eye Quarter-Final Spot with Win over Botswana

Posted : 10 July 2025

Group leaders Nigeria will fancy their chances of scooping the three points when they take on Botswana in Casablanca in their second match of the determined campaign to win a 10th Women Africa Cup of Nations title.

The Super Falcons wasted little sweat in dispatching Tunisia’s senior girls 3-0 in their first match of the campaign and will book an early slot in the quarter-finals if they collect another three points against the Southern Africans at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium, in a game starting at 8 p.m.

Three years ago, in the 12th edition of the competition hosted by the same country, the Falcons scored a goal in each half (courtesy of Ifeoma Onumonu and Christy Ucheibe) to turn the hopes of the Botswanans to ashes at the Stade Prince Moulay El Hassan.

The opposition will have a number of new birds to contend with on Thursday, with the likes of Esther Okoronkwo (Woman of the Match against Tunisia), Jennifer Echegini, Rinsola Babajide, and Chinwendu Ihezuo likely to present a number of problems at the fore, alongside the well-known faces of Captain Rasheedat Ajibade, Asisat Oshoala, and Toni Payne.

Head Coach Justine Madugu may take the option of starting with Christy Ucheibe, Halimatu Ayinde, and Jennifer Echegini in the midfield, to provide ample ammunition for Ajibade, Payne, and either of Oshoala or Ihezuo to do the damage.

Goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie remains the rock between the posts, with Osinachi Ohale to provide guidance and wisdom for Tosin Demehin, Michelle Alozie, and Ashley Plumptre at the rear.

Botswana comes into the game still nursing their one-goal defeat to Algeria in the first round of matches—the same day the Falcons hit the Tunisians for three, with Asisat Oshoala, debutant Rinsola Babajide, and Chinwendu Ihezuo the scorers.

Oshoala’s early goal presaged a comfortable evening for the nine-time champions, and had they taken most of the chances they created, the North Africans would have returned to the dressing room with a basketful of goals.

“As I said before the commencement of the tournament, we remain focused on our Mission X, and we believe that victory over Botswana is a huge possibility. We are taking it one match at a time without taking any team for granted,” Madugu said.

In Other News:

The coach of the Nigeria Under-17 female football team, the Flamingos, Bankole Olowookere, said that merit would be his guiding principle in player selection ahead of the upcoming FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.

Olowookere, in an interview in Abuja, said in spite of being drawn in a tough group, the team would excel in the group stage.

The coach expressed confidence in his team’s ability to have an outstanding record in the championship.

“We will work hard and make Nigeria proud.

The team’s preparation is already underway, and we promise to bring a strong team to the tournament.

We will select quality players to represent the country. We will not take the competition lightly.

We will bring something good to Nigeria and make every Nigerian happy, wherever they are,” he said.

The coach said that the team needs to rise to the challenge due to the group they find themselves in.

“We know that every team will come fully prepared for the World Cup, so we will start immediate preparation and intensify our strategic training.

We are meeting the best teams from each continent, so we must be on top of our game. We will continue to work hard to surpass our previous positions in the World Cup,” he said.

Recall Nigeria's Flamingos were drawn into Group D alongside Canada, France, and Samoa.

This will be Nigeria’s eighth appearance in the tournament, and the team aims to build on their past successes, including their bronze medal win in 2022.

For the first time, 24 countries will take part in the tournament, which is the ninth edition since the competition was launched 17 years ago in New Zealand.

The 2025 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup will take place in Morocco from Oct. 17 to Nov. 8.

Super Falcons Eye Quarter-Final Spot with Win over Botswana

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