Played at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium on Friday evening, the much-anticipated encounter saw the reigning African champions assert their dominance early and maintain total control throughout the match.
Despite entering the tie with optimism and a squad filled with promising talent, the Zambians were unable to cope with the pace, precision, and physicality of the record nine-time champions.
Nigeria opened the scoring in the 2nd minute through veteran defender Osinachi Ohale, setting the tone for what became a one-sided affair. Esther Okoronkwo doubled the lead midway through the first half, before Chiwendu Ihezuo added a third just before the break to put the game beyond Zambia’s reach.
The second half offered little reprieve for the Southern Africans, as Nigeria continued to dominate proceedings. Goals from Tosin Demehin and Folashade Ijamilusi rounded off a comprehensive victory for the Super Falcons, who now advance to the semifinals in emphatic style.
In her post-match interview, Swiss-born Häuptle did not shy away from the harsh reality of her team’s performance, offering a candid assessment.
“It was a very clear loss for us. Congratulations to Nigeria on a well-deserved victory. Today, we must accept that Nigeria was simply better than us,” she said.
The result is Zambia’s heaviest knockout stages defeat at the WAFCON since their tournament debut and brings an abrupt end to their hopes of improving on their third place in the 2022 edition. Despite showing flashes of quality in the group stage, Häuptle’s side struggled to string together cohesive play against a disciplined and clinical Nigerian outfit.
Nigeria’s Super Falcons now look increasingly like strong contenders to claim a record-extending 10th continental title.
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