By Eniola Olatunji reporting for Patmos Media Line
…Nigeria May Play Cameroon in Quarterfinal
TEN TIMES African champions and current champions,The Super Falcons of Nigeria Wednesday at the Stade Larbi Zouli in Casablanca Morocco rose from the anguish of possible shame to qualify for the quarterfinals of the WAFCON tournament with a dazzling 6-2 win over Cleopatras of Egypt in Group C.
Nigerians suffered high level anxiety keeping watch with their calculators as well as switching football apps with live Radio and Television coverages to see whether the Falcons shall be sent out at the group stage.
Ageless Agba Baller, Asisat Oshoala took advantage of an indisputable penalty award by Ref Aline Umutoni of Rwanda to slot in Nigeria’s first goal in the 22nd minute.
Oshoala was injured in the 41st minute and Nigerians started cursing but another old war horse, Gift Monday who came in for her got a thorough pass from Captain Rasheedat Ajibade to score the 2nd goal in 45+2 minute only for Michelle Alozie to concede a soft penalty with a yellow card for Nadine Ghazi to score in 45+10 minute for Egypt.
The bench again came to the rescue as Folashade Ijamilusi was brought out for Uchenna Kanu in the 56th minute and a minute spent on the field she scored Nigeria’s 3rd goal through Omorinsola Babajide connect.
Nigerians were busy monitoring the dangerous Chawingas of Malawi combine with Barbra Banda when Christy Ucheibe scored the 4th goal from the penalty spot but hardly had the ovation gone loud that Nadine Ghazi got her brace in the 84th minute from a Yasmin Zezo pass.
Rasheedat Ajibade stepped forward to score another penalty goal in 90+1 minute to make it 5-2.
Recall that in my preview I wrote that Nigeria would get 2 or 3 penalty kicks. Just as Nigerians in Casablanca and at viewing joints in Nigeria were praying God for more goals, it was like the lady called Mummy G. O. (General Overseer), Rasheedat Ajibade discerned the Macedonian call and floated her trademark pass to Joy Omewa to score and give joy and gladness to millions of Nigerians.
Lethargic Barbra Banda made many Nigerians’ blood pressure to rise scoring Zambia’s first goal in the 2nd minute from a Blessing Moluba pass and in the 36th minute Prisca Chifufya scored the 2nd goal through Margaret Belumu.
You can imagine the joy to Nigerians when Tabitha Chawinga scored for Malawi in the 71st minute to make it 2-1. Nigerians prayed that Malawi score the 2nd but the prayer entered voice mail.
Thus Group C table read:
1. Zam 6pts 8-2 goals +6GD
2. Ngr 6pts 9-5 goals +4GD
3. Mal 6pts 7-5 goals +2GD
4. Egy 0pt 3-15 goals -12GD.
Meaning Malawi and Egypt are out.
Nigeria will now meet Cameroon Lionesses on Sunday at 6pm in the 3rd quarterfinals (Cameroon has topped group D even with a match to play); Zambia will wait for group D matches to be concluded tomorrow to know their opponent.
Tomorrow Thursday Cape Verde will meet Cameroon while Mali will lock horns with Ghana both matches taking place simultaneously at 9,00pm.
The 1st quarterfinals will be between Algeria and Ivory Coast on Saturday at 6.00pm while the 2nd quarterfinals will be hosts Morocco versus South Africa at 9.00pm same Saturday.
#CAF #WAFCON2026 #WAFU
#UNAFA #COSAFA #CECAFA
#NFF #FAZ #EFA #FAM
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