By Eniola Olatunji reporting for Patmos Media Line
THE WORLD of football is waiting for the outcome of the clash of Africa’s Ten times champions and Defending Champions, Super Falcons of Nigeria and the Copper Queens of Zambia at the Al Medina Stadium in Rabat Morocco at 9pm tonight.
It is a match that prestige, honour, superiority claims, skills and a chance to be at the world cup is at stake. Paper records or boardroom politics may not be relevant but current forms especially the mind set and ability to convert half chances during hostilities tonight.
Both sides met 4 times before and Nigeria won thrice, Zambia won once and out of the 16 goals scored, Nigeria scored a handsome 15 goals which could mean that the Zambians might face a special squad of shoot at sight footballers.
Guinness Book of records says Azeezat Oshoala is the highest decorated African female footballer having bagged the best player award six times in 2014, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2022 and 2023 beating the four times record of Perpetual Nkwocha of Nigeria.
Oshoala is among Nigeria’s three top highest scorers ever Nkwocha had 80 goals; Oshoala 37; both Oparanozie and Uchenna Kanu has 22 goals each.
Uchenna and Oshoala may feature against Zambia. Oshoala has a football academy churning out players like captain Rasheedat Ajibade. That’s why Oshoala is called AGBA BALLER all over the world.
There’s a superbrat in the Zambian squad who according to CAF “has etched her name into history books with hatricks” and that is captain Barbra Banda who has 63 goals to her credit and could single handedly shoot out Falcons from the tournament Saturday tonight.
There’s Rachael Kundananji 33 goals; Helen Mubanga 22 goals; Grace Chanda 18 goals and Rachael Nechula 17 goals. These are girls that sank the Cleopatras of Egypt 6-0 in the red sea of WAFCON in Morocco in the 1st round.
Age is telling on most of the girls now Oshoala is 31 same with Halimatu Ayinde and Toni Payne; Osinachi Ohale is oldest at 34 followed by Ortega at 32; striker Esther Okoronkwo is 29 while two times African best Goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie is 25.
There are three wonderful Mary in Zambian squad, Mwakapila, Mubanga and Mulenga are 31; the two goalkeepers Ngambo and Catherine are 28 while the dreaded Barbra is 26.
The talk about the shape of Falcons Manager being obese is nonsense nonsensical it is the players that has to watch their weights remain fit and trim.
Chiamaka gained much weight taking too much Akpu, a delicious favourite swallow meal of Igbos of Nigeria when she went to her village in the East before reporting in camp so she could not fly like the cat she used to be and her positioning against Malawi were unbecoming she could be blamed for the Loss against Malawi but what were the defenders doing? Snoring?
On current forms, Zambia is far better having 34 shots at goal to Nigeria’s 13; making 12-8 goals on target; and good at ball holding at 63-35% having 7-2 big chances in the 1st round; but Nigeria is better at tiki-taka flowing football with 305-77 passes.
Though Nigeria loves long passes straight to wingers and attackers with the 70-29 long passes, Nigeria should watch out because Zambia prefer shots in the box shown from 23-12 record, they should know it’s a four-fold tactical play to wait for rebounds, get penalty from panicky defenders, cause red card or get corner kicks advantage.
Zambia makes Crosses from 30-18 of it but Nigeria defenders should watch their offside traps that can be faulty. They had 8-4 corner kicks meaning they may put Nigeria’s defenders under induced pressure.
Goalkeeper saves look even with 3-4 but on a good day of Chi baby in goal forget pressure or penalty goals. Oh penalties, I see penalty kicks the Zambians play hard rock football like Taribo West or Segun Olumodeji used to do.
Olumodeji broke Pele of Brazil leg at King George V Stadium, Onikan-Lagos in 1968. 17-10 foul calls for Zambia is a warning of a possible red card. A deflated team against Nigeria will suffer.
I saw Nigeria lift the 1st WAFCON trophy at Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abeokuta in 1998 as I was lead Radio Commentator for the local radio OGBC and right now blinking my eyes in this cold, I see Falcons forgetting their emotions and pride of mega champs and playing like wounded Lions beyond the Zambia match.
I don’t predict matches I use my precision journalism skills with data and inferences to tell who will win. Nigeria will win well against Zambia.
#CAF #WAFCON2026 #WAFU
#COSAFA #UNAFA #CECAFA #CECAFA
#NFF #ZFF.
