As the Super Falcons gear up for a highly anticipated semi-final clash against reigning champions South Africa in the ongoing Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco, forward Esther Okoronkwo has expressed confidence in Nigeria’s chances of progressing to the final.
Okoronkwo, who plays for AFC Toronto in Canada’s Northern Super League, has been instrumental in Nigeria’s run so far. The 28-year-old has notched one goal and provided four assists, more than any other player in the tournament, further cementing her influence on the team’s success.
Speaking at a pre-match press conference, the 19-cap international stressed the team’s focus and determination: “We go into every game with the same mentality and the same motivation to want to win regardless of the opponent that’s in front of us. And we are prepared. We are not considering other team statistics or their previous actions. We’re more focused on ourselves and on what we’re going to do. We are here to win and to continue the run.”
“When I am on the field, I just want to help the team the best way I can, whether it is by scoring or assisting. The fact that we want to win the tournament is a great motivation to bring the trophy back to Nigeria,” she added.
Nigeria will be seeking to settle the score after falling to South Africa in the group stage of the 2022 edition, also held in Morocco. On that occasion, Banyana Banyana edged the Falcons 2-1 and went on to claim their first-ever WAFCON title under coach Desiree Ellis.
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The defending champions will once again aim to assert dominance over their West African rivals. Under the guidance of coach Justine Madugu, Nigeria advanced to the semi-finals by finishing atop Group B with seven points. The Falcons began their campaign with a convincing 3-0 win over Tunisia, followed by a narrow 1-0 victory against Botswana, and rounded off the group stage with a goalless draw against Algeria.
They then delivered a commanding performance in the quarter-finals, thrashing Zambia’s Copper Queens 5-0 to book a place in the final four, marking a record 13th straight WAFCON semi-final appearance.
Having missed out on a podium finish only once in tournament history, during the 2022 edition, the Super Falcons will be aiming to make a strong statement against the defending champions and secure their place among the top three once again.
