As both countries bag quarter-final tickets
Algeria battled Super Falcons of Nigeria to a goalless draw and in the process secured a vital point to reach the quarter-finals of the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) for the first time in their history.
Though Nigeria dominated possession and created the bulk of the chances in the tightly contested encounter played inside Stade Larbi Zaouli in Casablanca, it was Algeria’s defensive organisation and goalkeeper Chloé N’Gazi’s heroics that ensured the spoils were shared on Sunday night.
Nigeria topped the group with seven points from three matches, and with Botswana beating Tunisia 2-1 in the group’s other match, Algeria’s hard-earned point was enough to see them finish second in Group B with five points
Already assured of qualification before the encounter, the Super Falcons made several changes to their starting line-up but still threatened throughout the match, as Francisca Ordega, Rasheedat Ajibade, and Esther Okoronkwo all came close to scoring.
However, Algeria stood firm, and N’Gazi was particularly impressive in the closing stages, saving Okoronkwo’s powerful header in stoppage time to preserve her clean sheet, with Nigeria, who had scored four goals and conceded none before the match, left frustrated despite their dominance.
Speaking on the match’s outcome, Coach Justin Madugu described the result as a valuable lesson, saying: “Every match gives us something new. We rotated the squad, maintained a clean sheet, and learned to grind out results when the goals don’t come.”
On his part, Algeria coach Farid Benstiti praised his team’s resilience and discipline, saying: “We knew it would take a perfect defensive game to hold Nigeria. I’m proud of the girls; they showed heart and tactical maturity.”
With this result, Nigeria will face the runners-up from Group A, while Algeria prepare for a historic knockout stage appearance in a tournament they entered as underdogs. While the task ahead will be difficult, the Algerians have now grown in confidence, showing that they can stand tall against the continent’s giants in female football.
