Former Nigerian international Dosu Joseph has warned the Super Falcons to prevent the Moroccans from dominating possession in the final of the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
Hosts Morocco edged Ghana on penalties at Rabat’s Stade Olympique, while earlier Nigeria ended the reign of defending champions South Africa with a last-gasp 2-1 victory in their clash in Casablanca.
Speaking with Completesports.com, the Atlanta Olympic gold medalist advised the Super Falcons to dictate the pace of the game and ensure that they take their goal-scoring chances.
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“The Super Falcons are just one game away from winning their 10th WAFCON title after defeating South Africa in the semi-final clash.
“However, facing the host, Morocco, in the final will be a bit challenging, but I am optimistic the Super Falcons will be victorious.
“The team must also prevent Morocco from controlling possession and forcing their game on the Super Falcons. Nigeria must take every goal-scoring chance that comes their way if they are to overcome Morocco.”
The 2025 final is a rematch of the dramatic 2022 semi-final, where Morocco stunned Nigeria on penalties to reach their first-ever WAFCON final.
The two sides meet again, with the stakes higher; with the trophy on the line.
4 Comments
With all due respect to the legend that is Joseph Dosu, I don’t think possession is the problem, a problem posed by Zambia and South Africa which the Super Falcons easily brushed aside.
Against Zambia, Nigeria lagged behind in possession stats, recording 44% against Zambia’s 56%. This mirrors the stats against South Africa where Nigeria recorded 46% against their 54%.
Morocco are the ones with the problem here. They have to try to neutralise Nigeria’s high long ball strategy. This strategy is directly implicated in 7 out of the 11 goals scored by Nigeria in this tournament: a massive 64% of all the goals Madugu’s ladies scored.
Zambia couldn’t live with this strategy. It produced several near misses against South Africa, particularly in the first half when these high balls left their goalkeeper discombobulated before being bailed out by her defenders in goal-mouth scrambles.
In the end, the South African defence capitulated as long high ball came good in at the death.
Stop high balls, stop the Super Falcons, easy. And I don’t see how Morocco will be able to deal with this Madugu manufactured brand of high balls.
On Madugu, a horde of implacable fans are still not sold on his methodology, but they can take it all leave it. A coach might please some of the fans some of the time but can never please all of the fans all of the time.
Madugu started the tournament with regulars but he didn’t shirk from taking tough decisions when the occasion called for it. As the tournament wore on, the subs made their mark and were markedly rewarded with starting berths.
In a million years, who would have expected staunch starters Oshoala, Payne, and Babajide give way for Ihezuo, Okoronkwo, and Ijamilusi?
Ihezuo and Okoronkwo complement each other exceptionally well. As impact subs they gelled spectacularly, as starters they complement each other marvellously.
Though the centre forward, Okoronkwo drifts left, right and deep to allow Ihezuo exploit the space left behind in the centre, where Ihezuo exploited to devastating effect against Zambia.
A natural winger like Babajide might struggle to conjure such centre forward instincts, as a winger.
At a time when all armchair critics (including myself, I hasten to add) were condemning Madugu for playing Rasheedat Ajibade against type in midfield instead of on the flanks, Madugu stuck to his guns. As a result, Ajibade has been a revelation and contender for player of the tournament.
If this happens, Madugu moaners will mutter and moan that ‘Ajibade achieved this feat all by herself, without coaching input, blah, blah, blah’. All too sad, sadly, all too true.
Madugu’s philosophy of long high balls, overlapping fullbacks, diamond midfield, dynamism of the front 3 with a reliable defensive infrastructure has propelled the Super Falcons this far.
Will it propel them to the podium? How will I know? I be babalawo? But I think they stand in good stead.
Good luck to the team!
The SA goalkeeper is a top talent, and I suspect it’ll be a slugfest between her and Nnadozie for the best goalkeeper, both in the tournament and APOTY.
Those long balls gave us a healthy number of goals against an average goalkeeper like Zambia’s goaltender, but not so much against a stud like Dlamini.
I doubt the Moroccan goalkeeper is as good as Dlamini, although maybe slightly better than the Zambian goalie. She’s, however, good with penalties. So the match must not stretch to extra time or penalties.
Hi Kel,
Please go back and watch the highlights: High balls did beat the South African goalkeeper at least 3 times before her defenders cleared the ball. She struggled to judge the flights and aerodynamics of those ball
Funnily, our own Nnadozie even struggled with those long balls as one from South Africa beat her fair and square in the second half before Ohale’s goal mouth clearance.
Thinking of long balls evading the opposition goalkeeper is reductive. It’s not only about goalkeeper but also about getting behind the defensive backline which Zambia struggled with but South Africa compensated for with well focused defenders. In the end, they succumbed to Alonzie’ deft delivery.
The Moroccan goalie is ok, but error prone. She will likely fumble some balls, giving us opportunities.
The goalies that impressed me so far are Nnadozie, konlan of Ghana, the SA goalie, the Botswana goalie and the Algerian net minder.
Our players should be encouraged to keep the Moroccan goalie busy. Players like Ajibade, Plumptre, Echegini, Alozie, and the 3 forwards should pepper her with shots. And be ready for the lasers pointed at their faces from the partisan Moroccan crowd, and of course the antics and tricks of the players. They will deploy every trick and scheme in their repertoire to secure their first WAFCON trophy. We must beware and be ready!