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Nigeria’s Super Falcons have qualified for the quarterfinals of the Women’s African Cup of Nations (WAFCON) after hammering Egypt 6-2, in their final Group C game on Wednesday, completesports.com reports.
The result means the Super Falcons finish in second place on six points while Malawi, also on six points, top the group despite losing 2-1 to Zambia in the other fixture.
Asisat Oshoala, Gift Monday, Uchenna Kanu, Christy Ucheibe, Rasheedat Ajibade and Joy Omewa were the scorers for the Super Falcons while Nadin Ghazy got Egypt’s two goals.
The Super Falcons will now face Cameroon, who topped Group D, in the quarterfinals on Sunday.
Heading into the clash with Egypt the Super Falcons knew only a win by a wide margin and a favourable result in the game between Malawi and Zambia could guarantee qualification into the last eight.
Mitchelle Alozie had the Super Falcons first attempt on goal in the 15th minute but her effort went just off target.
Oshoala went close on 18 minutes but her shot hit an Egyptian player on the hand which the keeper punched away.
The handball incident was checked by VAR and was awarded with Oshoala converting the spot kick to put the Falcons 1-0 up on 21 minutes.
With 10 minutes left Rinsola Babajide sent in a cross which went over the bar.
The Falcons were forced into an early change as Oshoala went off injured and was replaced by Monday.
Also Read: WAFCON 2026: We Won’t Be Intimidated By Super Falcons — Egypt Captain Ali
In the 42nd minute Rasheedat Ajibade hit a low shot which the keeper Palmed away for a corner.
Few seconds later the Egyptian keeper made another fine save to deny Babajide.
Then in the first minute of added time Monday doubled the Falcons lead as she stabbed home Babajide’s cross.
Egypt were awarded a penalty which they converted through Ghazy in the 10th minute of first half added time after Alozie was adjudged to have fouled an opponent.
The Falcons had the upper hand in the second half and went close on 56 minutes only for Monday to see her header go just wide.
Their pressure eventually paid off on 57 minutes as Kanu, who only came on few seconds earlier, slotted into an empty net off an assist by Babajide.
In the 65th minute Ajibade put in a dangerous cross which an Egyptian player blocked away for a corner.
The Super Falcons went 4-1 up from the penalty spot on 81 minutes after Ucheibe scored from the penalty spot for a foul on Kanu.
But the Egyptians made it 4-2 just three minutes after Ucheibe’s goal as Ghazy got her second goal.
For the third time in the match the Super Falcons were awarded a penalty and Ajibade stepped up to send the keeper the wrong way to make it 5-2 on 91 minutes.
Then in the 99th minute substitute Omewa got among the goals as she added the sixth for the defending champions.
By James Agberebi
2 Comments
I can’t help but feel today that individual qualities and sheer luck have helped us so far. The coaching input or tactical plan is almost undiscernible. The quality of coaching is poor or very minimal.
Can anyone explain the tactical plan in this match? All the competitive teams have studied us since last Wafcon and discovered that marshalling a sound wing-clipping tactic and fast break at the back leaves us vulnerable.
But we might still wobble and fumble into the semi-final and WC qualifications.
Job done! SF lived dangerously most part of the game but at the end they got the hob done.
I will cut the slack on both the coach and SF players because Egypt women has improved from the one that played and conceded 6 unreplied goals against the Copper Queens of Zambia in their opening game and did everything to make life difficult for the SF.
SF would be meeting the Cameroonian lionesses in the Qtr finals, and I am very optimistic Nigeria SF will turn out in their real colour with a posotive result and qualify for the Women’s World Cup in Brazil next year- without the pressure they put themselves through in the last 2 games against Zambia, with 10 SF women, and today against an improved Egyptian Cleopatra side, ready for War.
Congratulations to Coach Madugu and his wards for climbing every mountain placed before them, successfully. You can’t ask for more!