Nigeria, Zambia set for fiery WAFCON quarter-final

A fierce Women Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) quarter-final clash awaits in Casablanca on Friday as Nigeria’s Super Falcons and Zambia’s Copper Queens renew hostilities in what promises to be a defining moment of the tournament. Once dominant forces, the nine-time champions Super Falcons no longer walk over opposition in Africa. The last decade has […]

A fierce Women Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) quarter-final clash awaits in Casablanca on Friday as Nigeria’s Super Falcons and Zambia’s Copper Queens renew hostilities in what promises to be a defining moment of the tournament.

Once dominant forces, the nine-time champions Super Falcons no longer walk over opposition in Africa. The last decade has seen teams like Zambia, South Africa, and Morocco rise in strength, confidence, and organisation. The days of easy wins are gone.

Nigeria once thrashed Zambia 6-0 in 2014 and 4-0 in 2018, but it was the Copper Queens who edged the Falcons in the 2022 bronze-medal match in Morocco. Zambia are no longer underdogs—they’re contenders.

Nigeria’s head coach, Justine Madugu, remains confident “We have our strategies; we’ve studied them. We’re not too bothered by individual players. We’ll have an antidote on matchday.”

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Zambia’s coach Nora Häuptle is equally bullish “We’re in a good place with five rest days. If you want to win this tournament, you must beat everyone.”

The match, set for Larbi Zaouli Stadium, is more than just a quarter-final—it’s a clash of ambition. Nigeria will welcome back midfield dynamo Deborah Abiodun, with Esther Okoronkwo and Jennifer Echegini likely to start.

Captain Rasheedat Ajibade and defender Ashleigh Plumptre—both named in the group stage Best XI—will lead the charge. Zambia’s star trio of Barbra Banda, Rachael Kundananji, and Lushomo Mweemba also made the elite list.

Beyond the pitch, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Said Ahmad, and Minister of Arts and Culture, Hajia Hannatu Musa Musawa, have rallied support for the Falcons.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has launched a CAF Educators’ Course that will commence today and end on 25th July 2025 at the Package B of the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.

“This programme is part of our quest to increase the number of CAF-Licensed Coach Educators across the length and breadth of Nigeria. We have selected a total of 15 participants. All those selected have met the requirements as stated in our public notice three months ago.

“These are people who possess the minimum of CAF B-License, are proficient in the English language, have a teaching background, are passionate in helping other coaches and have competence in computer software such as PowerPoint, Excel and Word,” NFF Technical Director, Coach Augustine Eguavoen told thenff.com.