In their final Group B match at the 13th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Casablanca on Sunday, Algeria’s Lady Fennecs held Nigeria’s Super Falcons to a 0-0 draw, earning their first-ever quarter-final berth.
Super Falcons Head Coach Justine Madugu made eight changes to the starting lineup from their 1-0 victory over Botswana on Thursday.
The new starters included defenders Shukurat Oladipo, Miracle Usani, and Sikiratu Isah, midfielders Christy Ucheibe and Jennifer Echegini, and forwards Francisca Ordega, Ifeoma Onumonu, and Chinwendu Ihezuo, as well as goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, defender Tosin Demehin, and captain Rasheedat Ajibade.
The strategy was to rest key players ahead of a crucial quarter-final clash against Zambia’s Copper Queens on Friday.
Algeria adopted a defensive approach, similar to Botswana’s, packing numbers behind the ball to frustrate Nigeria’s attack.
Despite the Super Falcons’ dominance, clear chances were scarce. Francisca Ordega, lively as she was in last month’s friendly against Portugal in Lisbon, nearly broke the deadlock just before halftime.
Her cross found Ifeoma Onumonu, but the shot was blocked before reaching Algeria’s standout goalkeeper, Chloe N’gazi Boumrar.
In the 52nd minute, a scramble in the Algerian penalty area failed to produce a goal. Three minutes later, Ordega set up Ajibade, but the captain was quickly closed down by two defenders. Late efforts from Echegini, Ordega, and substitute Esther Okoronkwo were not enough to break the deadlock.
The scoreless draw secured Algeria’s historic advancement to the quarter-finals, while the Super Falcons now turn their focus to a potentially intense quarter-final matchup against high scoring Zambia.
