Nigeria head into their 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final clash against Zambia under pressure to rediscover their attacking edge, as head coach Justin Madugu raises concern over his team’s lack of cutting edge in front of goal.
Despite advancing from Group B with two victories—3-0 over Tunisia and a narrow 1-0 win against Botswana—the Super Falcons struggled to convert their dominance into goals.
Their final group match, a goalless draw with Algeria, highlighted a growing problem, with the team recording 24 shots without finding the back of the net.
Before this tournament, we played matches and scored goals in many of them, said Madugu. In this tournament, scoring goals has become a challenge for us. His comments reflect a deepening frustration within the Nigerian camp, with the coach acknowledging that clinical finishing could be the difference between progress and elimination in the knockout stages.
Calling on his players to step up, Madugu urged a shift in mentality ahead of Friday’s fixture in Casablanca. We need to be creative and bold, he said. The same players who were scoring before are still in the game, so why they’re not scoring goals is something we need to look at and work on.
The Super Falcons’ current tally of four goals in three games does little to reflect the attacking firepower the team is known for.
In their narrow win over Botswana, it took until the 89th minute for Chiwendu Ihezuo to break the deadlock—a moment that spared Nigeria a potential group stage stumble.
Now preparing to face a Zambia side with a dangerous frontline led by Barbara Banda and Racheal Kundananji, Nigeria must sharpen their finishing or risk being exposed.
Zambia may have defensive vulnerabilities, but their attacking threat remains one of the most potent in the competition.
Madugu admitted his disappointment with the side’s display against Algeria, calling it rather lethargic and offering an apology to fans.
But with just days to go before their quarter-final test, the focus is now on solutions rather than regrets.
This is an area that is becoming a source of concern and worry for us, he concluded. We must improve if we want to continue in this tournament.
With a record-extending 12th continental title on the line, the Super Falcons know the stakes—and the expectations—remain as high as ever.
