Super Falcons head coach Justine Madugu has attributed Nigeria’s explosive 5–0 victory over Zambia in the WAFCON 2025 quarter-finals to weeks of tactical fine-tuning and improved execution in front of goal.
Speaking during the post-match press conference in Casablanca, Madugu responded to questions about why such a dominant performance hadn’t come earlier in the tournament, with many observers critical of Nigeria’s conservative approach during the group stage.
“In the previous games, our opponents sat back and played with a low block, which made it difficult to express ourselves the way fans expected. Zambia came out, and that gave us space to play.”
Osinachi Ohale celebrating Super Falcons first goal against Zambia in 2024 Wafcon quarter finals. Photo Credit: Justina Aniefiok
Madugu emphasized that the players had remained committed to improving behind the scenes, even when early results weren’t as fluid as expected.
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“We said it before: it’s a work in progress,” he noted. “We kept identifying our weaknesses — service delivery, final passes, and finishing and we worked on them. Today, we saw the results.”
Esther Okoronkwo celebrating Super Falcons 2nd goal against Zambia in 2024 Wafcon quarter finals. Photo Credit: Justina Aniefiok
The Super Falcons scored five goals through five different players and kept a fourth straight clean sheet — a clear sign of both attacking depth and defensive solidity.
“The girls did their best in the group stage too. They created chances, but converting those chances was the issue. Today, they took them well. That’s the difference,” he added.
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Nigeria will now face either South Africa or Senegal in the semi-finals, and Madugu urged focus and continuity.
“We keep working, we keep believing, and we hope the players keep this level of performance going.”
