Super Falcons head coach Justine Madugu says Nigeria is ready and confident ahead of their highly anticipated quarter-final clash against Zambia at the 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) on Friday.
The nine-time champions, once dominant across Africa, now face a more competitive field, with the likes of South Africa, Morocco, and Zambia emerging as formidable challengers in recent years.
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“The terrain has changed. We no longer have easy rides in Africa, and we respect how far Zambia has come,” Madugu said.
“We have our strategies; we’ve studied them carefully and know their strengths. We’re not worried about individual players. We’ll have our antidote on matchday.”
Zambia’s Copper Queens, who were humbled 6-0 by Nigeria in 2014 and 4-0 in 2018, turned the tables by defeating the Super Falcons in the 2022 WAFCON bronze medal match.
Since then, Zambia has grown into a well-organised and confident team, powered by stars like Barbra Banda, Rachael Kundananji, and Lushomo Mweemba, all named in the tournament’s group stage Best XI alongside Nigeria captain Rasheedat Ajibade and defender Ashleigh Plumptre.
Madugu remains unfazed: “We know how good they are, but we’re focused on our own game. Every match is different, and we are preparing to execute our plan.”
Nigeria, who were knocked out by Morocco on penalties in the 2022 semi-final, are looking to reclaim their continental supremacy.
However, with WAFCON witnessing a rise in competitiveness, as Senegal, Algeria, Mali, and even a resurgent Ghana reach the knockout stage, there is little margin for error.
