10-7-2025
Nigeria’s Super Falcons laboured to a 1-0 win over Botswana in Thursday’s group B tie of the Women African Cup of Nations played at Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca, Morocco.
Though the Super Falcons dominated the game, they found it hard to break down the well organised Mares of Botswana with goalkeeper Sedilame Bosija, denying the Super Falcons on several occassions.
Asisat Oshoala and Toni Payne both squandered opportunities before the break, while Botswana nearly took a shock lead through Balothany Johannes and Laone Moloi, whose efforts forced saves from Chiamaka Nnadozie.
A the break a visibly flustered coach Justin Madugu introduced Christy Ucheibe, Esther Okoronkwo and Chinwendu Ihezuo and that seem to pile more pressure on Botswana.
In the 88th minute Ihuezuo scrambled in the only goal of the match to give respite to the Nigerian bench.
The win keeps Nigeria unbeaten and top of their group with six points, moving them closer to a place in the quarter-finals.
Botswana, meanwhile, suffered a second consecutive defeat, leaving them with a difficult task to progress. They will play against Tunisia, while the Super Falcons will play Algeria in the final group B match.