Standout performance from 25-year-old star powers Nigeria to second straight win in Casablanca.
Rasheedat Ajibade delivered a commanding all-round display on Thursday night to earn Woman of the Match honours, as Nigeria edged Botswana 1-0 in a tightly contested Group B clash in Casablanca.
Ajibade’s relentless energy and creativity were key as the Super Falcons secured a crucial win to advance to the quarter-finals.
Although the match remained goalless for much of the evening, Nigeria’s persistence eventually paid off. Super-sub Chiwendu Ihezuo struck in the 90th minute, finishing clinically to snatch all three points. It was her second goal of the tournament, having also scored in the 3-0 win over Tunisia.
Ajibade, who played the full 90 minutes, consistently troubled Botswana’s backline with her pace, pressing, and vision. Her effort and leadership across the pitch made her an easy choice for the post-match award.
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Thanks to the victory, the Super Falcons now sit top of Group B with six points from two games. Their defensive solidity, combined with improved attacking sharpness, has made them early favourites to go far in the tournament.
Botswana, despite putting up a resilient fight under coach Alex Malete, were unable to contain Nigeria’s late surge. The Mares’ defensive structure held for long periods, but cracks eventually appeared as the Falcons pushed harder in the closing stages.
In the other Group B game played on Thursday, Algeria were held to a goalless draw by Tunisia.
Next up for Nigeria is a showdown with Algeria, who trail behind with four points from their opening two games. That match, scheduled for Sunday at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium, will determine the final Group B standings and set the stage for knockout pairings.
Tags: Super Falcons, #WAFCON2024, #MissionX, #SoarSuperFalcons, #Team9jaStrong, #BOTNGA.
