Michelle Alozie was named Player of the Match as Nigeria’s Super Falcons strengthened their hopes of reaching the quarter-finals of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations with a 1-0 victory over Zambia on Saturday night.
The defender produced a strong display in a tightly fought encounter as Nigeria secured an important three points against the Copper Queens.
The result gave Justine Madugu’s team a major boost in their bid to progress to the knockout stages of the competition, with the Super Falcons now set to face Egypt in their final group fixture.
Veteran forward Asisat Oshoala scored the decisive goal in the eighth minute, giving Nigeria an early advantage in what proved to be a closely contested match.
Oshoala’s strike was enough to settle the contest as Nigeria held on to claim victory against a Zambia side that remained competitive throughout the encounter.
Alozie was one of Nigeria’s standout performers and was rewarded with the Player of the Match award for her contribution to the win.
She began the match in her usual position at right-back, where she played an important role as the Super Falcons attempted to contain Zambia while also supporting their attacking efforts.
The defender’s versatility was also called upon after the interval when she was moved across to left-back for the second half.
Despite the change in position, Alozie maintained her influence on the game and helped Nigeria protect their narrow lead until the final whistle.
For Madugu’s side, the victory was particularly significant as it revived their hopes of securing a place in the quarter-finals.
Nigeria went into the encounter needing a positive result and ultimately got it through Oshoala’s early goal and a disciplined performance from the team.
The Super Falcons will now turn their attention to their final group match against the Cleopatras of Egypt on Wednesday night.
That fixture will be the next opportunity for Nigeria to secure their progress to the last eight, with the team looking to build on the confidence gained from their victory over Zambia.
Alozie’s performance will also provide encouragement for the Super Falcons as they prepare for the decisive group-stage encounter.
Her ability to operate on both sides of the defence could prove useful again as Nigeria seek to maintain their momentum.
With Oshoala’s early strike proving sufficient against Zambia, Nigeria will hope to produce another composed performance when they meet Egypt.
The Super Falcons’ immediate objective is now clear: carry the momentum from Saturday’s hard-earned win into Wednesday’s meeting with the Cleopatras and strengthen their bid for a place in the quarter-finals.
The victory over Zambia has put Nigeria back on course, but their group campaign will be decided by the outcome of their final match.
