WAFCON 2024: Nigeria Trounce Zambia 5-0 To Soar Into Semi-Final

Nigeria’s Super Falcons proved too much for their opponents Zambia in the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) 2024 quarterfinal at the Stade Larbi Zaouli in Casablanca beating the Southern Africans 5-0 on Friday.

Goals from Osinachi Ohale, Esther Okoronkwo, Chinwendu Ihezuo, Oluwatosin Demehin and Folashade Ijamilusi were enough to give the Falcons daylight and book their semi final spot in the tournament.

Nigeria were hoping to bury ghosts of the past when they lost to Zambia 0-1 the last time both sides met in the 3rd place match in WAFCON 2022.

Nigeria have now gone four matches without conceding a single goal, while also making it a record 13th semi final appearance in the tournament.

A spark was what the Super Falcons needed and it came in as early as the 2nd-minute,when a cross found the head of Osinachi to give the ladies in green a deserved lead.

The Zambian side became much active as the match went on with the 2024 African Women’s Footballer of the Year, Babara Banda pulling the strings in attack for her side .

However, Nigeria doubled their lead in the 26th-minute this time courtesy of Okoronkwo, who after bringing the ball down perfectly, hit a half-volley to beat the Zambian shot stopper, Ngambo Musole.

A third came in the 45th-minute from Chinwendu, who stood off a challenge to perfectly slot the ball in the left hand side of goal.

The Super Falcons took the 3-0 lead into the second half and resumed where they left off with incisive passes and were denied by Musole.

The persistent pressure from the Super Falcons paid off and they were rewarded in the 68th-minute with the goal coming from, Oluwatosin Demehin

Justin Madugu made substitutions bringing in Asisat Oshoala and Christy Ucheibe for Okoronkwo and Halimatu.

A fifth was in the works for Nigeria and it came in the 90th-minute from Ijamilusi to give Madugu’s side a much needed statement win.