Nigeria, the record champions of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), were made to work hard for their place in the quarterfinals of the 2024 tournament, eventually edging out a determined Botswana side in the dying moments of the match. Despite their dominant pedigree and a wealth of talent on the field, the Super Falcons struggled to break down a defensively organized Botswana team, who entered the match as clear underdogs. The breakthrough finally came just two minutes from time when substitute Chinwendu Ihezuo capitalized on a rare lapse in the Botswana backline to tap in the winner, sealing a narrow and hard-fought 1-0 victory.

This performance mirrored Nigeria’s previous outing—a 3-0 win over Tunisia—in that it lacked the flair and control typically associated with the nine-time African champions. Though the result was positive, the Super Falcons showed signs of vulnerability, particularly in front of goal where they were again guilty of squandering several clear chances. The wastefulness that plagued them against Tunisia persisted against Botswana, underlining a need for greater sharpness and composure in the final third. Ihezuo, who also scored after coming off the bench in the opening game, continues to justify her “super sub” tag and may yet prove pivotal in the knockout stages if Nigeria are to realize their ambition of securing a record 10th WAFCON title.

With this latest victory, Nigeria now sit comfortably at the top of Group B with a perfect six points from two matches. Their final group game against second-placed Algeria on Sunday could determine the group winner, although the Super Falcons have already secured progression. Algeria, with four points, were earlier held to a goalless draw by Tunisia, who now have a single point. Botswana, despite their valiant showing against Nigeria, remain at the bottom of the group with no points. The final round of matches promises drama, especially with quarterfinal spots still up for grabs for the teams trailing Nigeria.