Nigeria Thrash Zambia To Reach Wafcon Semi-finals

Nigeria cruised into nan semi-finals of nan 2024 Women's Africa Cup of Nations pinch a connection 5-0 triumph complete Zambia successful Casablanca.

The Copper Queens had been expected to airs a reliable situation for nan grounds nine-time champions, but were blown distant by a stunning capacity which was underlined by objective finishing.

The West Africans ne'er looked backmost aft centre-back Osinachi Ohale was near unmarked astatine a free-kick successful nan 2nd infinitesimal and headed past Petronella Musole.

Grace Chanda missed a glorious chance to equalise connected nan half hr people and 3 minutes later Nigeria doubled their lead done a good decorativeness from nan awesome Esther Okoronkwo.

Chinwendu Ihezuo capitalised connected hesitancy successful nan Zambia defence to make it 3-0 to nan Super Falcons connected nan changeable of half-time pinch a composed finish.

Oluwatosin Demehin nodded successful nan 4th from different pinpoint free-kick transportation midway done nan 2nd half astatine nan Larbi Zaouli Stadium, and Folashade Ijamilusi rounded disconnected nan scoring successful nan first infinitesimal of stoppage time.

Zambia had beaten Nigeria to decorativeness 3rd astatine nan 2022 finals, yet their formidable onslaught business of Barbra Banda and Racheal Kundananji – who had scored 3 goals apiece successful nan group shape – grounded to registry a changeable connected target betwixt them.

Nigeria, who are still yet to concede a extremity astatine this year's finals, will look either defending champions South Africa aliases Senegal successful nan semi-finals connected Tuesday (16:00 GMT).

Those 2 sides meet successful nan past 8 successful Oujda connected Saturday astatine 19:00 GMT.

Nigeria had only recovered nan backmost of nan nett erstwhile successful their last 2 Group B games and coach Justin Madugu made six changes from nan 0-0 tie pinch Algeria connected Sunday, including handing Okoronkwo her first commencement of nan tournament.

The striker made an instant effect arsenic she floated successful a shot from heavy which Ohale met 12 yards retired and guided wrong nan right-hand upright pinch Musole rooted to nan spot, and Nigeria's purposeful commencement near their opponents connected nan backmost foot.

The Copper Queens were fto down by some their set-piece transportation and their crossing from unfastened play, pinch Super Falcons keeper Chiamaka Nnadozie besides prowling extracurricular her area to clear immoderate danger.

Banda created Zambia's only opening of nan first half, breezing past a defender connected nan near and cutting backmost to Chanda, who could not link from 12 yards.

It proved to beryllium a costly miss arsenic Okoronkwo scored a superb second, controlling Rasheedat Ajibade's transverse connected her thorax earlier keeping her equilibrium and firing into nan bottommost left-hand corner.

Ihezuo's 3rd extremity of nan tourney efficaciously wrapped nan crippled up astatine nan break, arsenic nan Pachuca frontwoman latched connected to a agelong shot from Nnadozie which Zambia grounded to clear and past side-footed past Musole.

A demoralised Zambia offered small aft nan break and Okoronkwo was nan supplier again erstwhile Demehin converted her inswinging free-kick from nan correct flank and Ijamilusi tapped successful Ajibade's transverse astatine nan backmost station to headdress disconnected a memorable day for nan Super Falcons.

Nigeria's run successful Morocco has been branded arsenic 'Mission X', and they stay connected people for their 10th continental title aft navigating their first situation connected nan harder broadside of nan draw.

A overwhelmingly ascendant capacity against nan Copper Queens will service arsenic informing to nan remainder of nan section that nan squad are motivated to return to West Africa pinch nan trophy they past won successful 2018.

The authorities of nan crippled allowed Madugu to retreat immoderate of his stars successful nan closing stages, and nan other day's remainder earlier their semi-final outing could beryllium important.

Zambia, meanwhile, came into these finals pinch precocious hopes aft featuring astatine nan past 2 editions of nan Olympics and nan 2023 Women's World Cup.

Nora Hauptle's broadside came adjacent to beating nan much-fancied tourney hosts successful nan opening crippled and only vanished down nan Atlas Lionesses connected extremity difference.

Banda had spoken of nan desire to emulate nan fairytale triumph by nan country's men astatine nan 2012 Africa Cup of Nations but Zambia had nary reply to Nigeria's accelerated start, coagulated defending and incisive attacking play.

The aureate procreation of nan Copper Queens will now person to target nan 2026 Wafcon for their first portion of awesome silverware.