Former Leicester City Women defender Ashleigh Plumptre insists Nigeria’s emphatic 5–0 WAFCON quarter‑final victory over Zambia has ignited belief ahead of their semi‑final showdown with South Africa. The win, secured at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca, featured goals from Osinachi Ohale, Esther Okoronkwo, Chinwendu Ihezuo, Blessing Demehin and Folashade Ijamilusi.
Plumptre noted that Zambia’s decision to play aggressively left spaces for the Falcons to exploit. “Zambia were a bit more offensive so that allowed us to get the spaces in behind, and be a little bit more creative,” she remarked.
Coach Justin Madugu also highlighted the impact of disrespect from opponents in fuelling determination. He mentioned that the players “follow social media… see reports… hear comments… they want to earn more respect,” which translated into their dominant performance.
Captain Rasheedat Ajibade echoed that sentiment, stating the team thrived on being underrated: “It is in these moments when they underrate us that we try to step up,” she explained. Nigeria now prepare to face South Africa in the semi‑final, confident not only in their attacking prowess but in the psychological edge gained from this resounding win.
Editorial
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We feel this moment underscores the Falcons’ mental resilience as much as their technical quality. Overturning disrespect into determination reveals a mindset primed for the big stage.
We acknowledge that the tactical boldness displayed plunging forward to carve space from Zambia’s aggressive approach—speaks to the team’s adaptability. It wasn’t mere luck it was intelligent, collective play.
We call on the squad to harness this psychological boost and technical swagger when facing South Africa. The semi‑final will demand both mental toughness and strategic discipline a balance the Falcons seem to have struck.
We remain convinced they have the depth to match the weight of big‑match pressure. From coaching decisions to leadership on the pitch, everything has aligned to this point. We urge Nigeria to believe: the path to WAFCON glory runs through both the heart and the head. This win has shown they possess both in abundance.
Did You Know?
- This marks Nigeria’s 13th consecutive appearance in the WAFCON semi‑finals, maintaining a national record.
- Esther Okoronkwo, though not a starter in every match, has become the tournament’s leading assist provider, delivering four assists and one goal.
- Osinachi Ohale opened the scoring within two minutes mirroring her early goal in Nigeria’s 6–0 dismantling of Zambia during the 2014 WAFCON.
- Zambia’s coach Nora Hauptle admitted their aggressive, “we go hunting” tactics backfired, creating gaps the Falcons expertly exploited.
- Defender Ashleigh Plumptre was named in CAF’s WAFCON Team of the Group Stage prior to this match
