WAFCON 2024-25 - Nigeria v Zambia - Quarter Final

FRIDAY 18 JULY 2025 This match had the potential to be the hottest ticket in town with two of the highest potential sides for success in this competition:

• Nigeria, which has won 9/12 WAFCON tournaments and had not lost a goal in the tournament while scoring 4, versus

• The Golden Generation of Zambia, with its powerful attack netting 6 goals in its group games and only dropping points in a 2-2 draw against the strongly supported hosts Morocco, which draws 25,000+ to each game. Only holders South Africa and hosts Morocco scored more, with 7 goals each.

Little surprise in such heat that the marvellous melting pot of WAFCON boiled over quickly. In the second minute, Esther Okoronkwo was fouled and took the freekick from which Osinachi Ohale headed to give Nigeria the lead.

In the 33rd minute, Esther was involved in the action again as she struck a left-footed shot in the bottom-left corner following a cross by Rasheedat Ajibade.

Although it was starting to look like Nigeria would run away with the game, without a reply from the most decorated women's team on this colourful continent, Zambia were edging closer to goal with Barbra Banda and Grace Chanda narrowly missing before Prisca Chilufya struck a shot that was unfortunately blocked.

With the tide turning just before half time, Chinwendu Ihezuo changed its direction by scoring a very similar goal to Esther: left foot in the bottom left.

In the second half, Zambia started turning the tide again with a shot from Grace blocked again. Then in the 68th minute, Oluwatosin Demehin netted a nice header from close range to deliver the fourth goal for Nigeria without reply from Zambia.

The wave of goals from Nigeria continued as Folashade Ijamilusi (Nigeria) scored another left-footed goal for Nigeria - although this time high into the centre of the net.

What a match. In this one game, Nigeria more than doubled their tally of goals scored in the entire group stage of three matches. We are sad to wave goodbye to Zambia, but extremely excited to see Nigeria stepping up a gear towards the business end as they threaten to touch double digits of WAFCON title wins.

Now that they have gotten into their rhythm, let's see whether they can hold fort against the high-scoring holders, South Africa, in the semi-final!

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