Tag: Morocco 2024

Super Falcons head coach Justin Madugu has stressed that midfielder Jennifer Echegini would continue to be assessed before a final decision can be made on her ahead of  tomorrow’s blockbuster fixture against Morocco  in the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations final.

Echegini hurt her leg in the Nigeria’s tense 2-1 victory over South Africa in the semi-finals of the ongoing WAFCON in Morocco and that knock is threatening to deny her a place in the grand finale of the competition.

Echegini, a product of Arsenal’s youth system, played a key role in helping Nigeria reach the final however she was forced off in the second half of the semi-final clash after sustaining a knock.

She was replaced by Christy Ucheibe, having struggled to shake off the impact during the match. Her injury has raised concerns over her fitness ahead of the final against tournament hosts Morocco, as Nigeria eyes a record-extending 10th WAFCON title.

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Speaking in his post-match press conference, Madugu confirmed that the midfielder picked up a knock and said the team is awaiting a full medical evaluation before determining her availability for the final.

“She had a slight knock and will need to be assessed by the medical team,” Madugu explained. “We’re waiting for their report to understand the extent of the injury and whether she’ll be available for the final.”

Despite the injury concern, Madugu praised his team’s performance in what he described as a challenging encounter against a strong South African side.

“It was a tough game. Everyone knew it wasn’t going to be easy,” he said. “But what mattered most was getting the win — and we did that. We’re happy to be in the final.”

With the championship decider looming, the Super Falcons will be hoping Echegini recovers in time to face Morocco, as they aim to reinforce their status as Africa’s dominant force in women’s football.

Beat Banyana Banyana 2-1

To meet hosts Morocco on Saturday 

Nigeria reached the Final of the 13^th  Women Africa Cup of Nations after a dramatic semi-final in Casablanca that saw Cup-holders South Africa sent packing, thanks to a late-in-the-day spectacular goal by defender Michelle Alozie.

Both teams fought tactically in the middle and other stretches of the park, with sets of players stifling one other at crucial moments. Nigeria came close after only eight minutes but forward Chinwendu Ihezuo, in the top scorer’s race with three goals, saw her effort tipped over the sticks by the veteran goalkeeper Andile Dlamini.

Esther Okoronkwo and Ihezuo were denied in the 11^th  minute as the Super Falcons kept pushing forward. From this point, the game settled into a ding-dong affair, with both teams refusing to allow the other to keep to its game plan.

In the 44^th  minute, the title-holders broke through the Falcons’ defence but the Banyana forward dragged her shot too wide.

A minute later, Nigeria was ahead. Receiving a pass from the right, Folasade Ijamilusi struck the ball, but it was hampered by the right hand of defender Mbane. Captain Rasheedat Ajibade, who had scored the penalty goal that separated both teams in their final Paris 2024 Olympics qualifying fixture last year, stepped forward and slotted past Dlamini.

A minute into the second half, Dlamini dropped the ball from Ajibade’s cross, but Ihezuo was not in the position to take advantage.

In the 56^th  minute, defender Osinachi Ohale pulled back forward Dhlamini in the box, gifting the Banyana Banyana a penalty. Midfielder Linda Motlhalo stepped forward and struck the ball past Chiamaka Nnadozie.

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The title-holders stepped on the throttle and nearly got another goal as substitute Cesane connected a brilliant pull-out past Nnadozie, but Ohale was in the right place to save the day for the nine-time champions.

Five minutes later, Banyana found their way to the front again, and Jermaine Seoposenwe’s floated ball rose narrowly over the sticks on the Nigerian side.

Towards the end, a tense moment saw both sets of players deeply concerned for the injured South African defender Gabriela Salgado, who was taken off the pitch holding her face.

Just as both teams were settling for extra time, in added time of the second period, Alozie’s lofted ball from the Nigerian defence missed everyone, and Ihezuo and midfielder Deborah Abiodun wrong-footed Dlamini as the ball went untouched into the Banyana net.

Victory meant the Super Falcons’ first win over the Banyana in the Africa Cup of Nations in the three tournaments, with the South Africans having won group stages matches in 2018 and 2022 with 1-0 and 2-1 score-lines respectively.

Meanwhile, hosts Morocco  will face-off  against the Super Falcons  in Saturday’s final in Casablanca after they  beat  Black Queens of Ghana on a 4-2 penalties after both  tied 1-1 in regulation  and extra time. Both Ghana and South Africa  will meet in the third-place play-off match on Friday.