Nigeria sent a thunderous message to the rest of the continent on Friday night with a blistering 5-0 demolition of Zambia in the quarterfinals of the 2024 TotalEnergies Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca.
In a game that was billed as a fierce battle between two rising powerhouses of African women’s football, it was the Super Falcons who rose highest — unleashing a performance filled with pace, power, and ruthless finishing.
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From the opening whistle, Nigeria made their intentions clear, and it took just two minutes for veteran defender Osinachi Ohale to break the deadlock, rising highest from a corner to nod home and set the tone for what became a long night for the Copper Queens.
By the 33rd minute, rising star Esther Okoronkwo doubled the lead, finishing off a slick passing move with a thunderous strike from the edge of the box that left the Zambian goalkeeper rooted to the spot.
Just before the halftime whistle, Chinwendu Ihezuo got in on the act with a poacher’s finish in the 45th minute, latching onto a rebound to slot in Nigeria’s third — effectively ending the contest by halftime.
Zambia, who had shown attacking flair throughout the tournament, were completely overwhelmed by Nigeria’s organized press and quick ball circulation. Even talisman Barbra Banda found no space to operate, suffocated by the impeccable defensive work of Ashleigh Plumptre and Blessing Demehin.
In the 68th minute, Demehin herself joined the scoresheet, meeting a corner kick with a bullet header to make it 4-0, sparking wild celebrations on the Nigerian bench.
Then, in added time (90+1′), substitute Falilat Ijamilusi put the final nail in Zambia’s coffin, racing onto a through ball and calmly slotting home to complete the 5-0 rout — Nigeria’s biggest win in the tournament so far.
🇳🇬 Nigeria’s Goal Scorers:
2’ – Osinachi Ohale
33’ – Esther Okoronkwo
45’ – Chinwendu Ihezuo
68’ – Blessing Demehin
90+1’ – Falilat Ijamilusi
Reactions from the Camp
Head coach Justin Madugu was full of praise for his squad:
“We talked about being more clinical in front of goal — and the girls responded magnificently. This was a complete performance. The defense held firm, the midfield controlled the tempo, and the attack was ruthless.”
Defender Ashleigh Plumptre, once again immense at the back, emphasized the team’s cohesion:
“This wasn’t about individuals — it was about a collective effort. We respected Zambia, but we came prepared, and now we’re just focused on going all the way.”
Zambia Left Reeling
For Zambia, it was a disappointing end to what had been a promising tournament. Missing influential forward Xiomara Mapepa and failing to match Nigeria’s physicality and pace, the Copper Queens were second-best in every department.
Head coach Bruce Mwape Hauptle admitted his side was outclassed:
“We came in with hope, but Nigeria were better tonight. We have a young squad, and this is a learning experience. We will come back stronger.”
What’s Next?
With the emphatic victory, Nigeria move into the semifinals, where they await the winner of the clash between defending champions South Africa and continental giants Cameroon.
As the Super Falcons chase a historic 10th WAFCON title, this commanding win will send shockwaves through the tournament — a powerful reminder that Africa’s queens of football remain as dangerous as ever.
Kickoff (Semifinal):
TBA – Nigeria vs. South Africa/Cameroon
Venue: Casablanca, Morocco
— Stay tuned for more updates as Nigeria continue their march toward glory.
