Super Falcons goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie has declared that winning the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco is the top priority for Nigeria’s national women’s team, as they prepare to make another title run this July.
According to a report, Nnadozie expressed strong motivation to lead the team to its 10th continental title after the heartbreak of the 2022 semifinal loss to Morocco. That match ended in a dramatic penalty shootout, dashing Nigeria’s hopes of retaining the championship.
“It was incredibly tough to accept that defeat to Morocco. We really wanted to defend our crown, but football can be like that some days, things just don’t go your way,” she told CAFonline.com. “That match against Morocco, we lost partly because the opposition had a well-executed strategy. It wasn’t that Nigeria was the weak team.”
Drawn in Group B for the upcoming tournament, Nigeria will face Tunisia, Algeria, and Botswana. Despite Nigeria’s dominance in past tournaments, Nnadozie warned against underestimating any opponent.
“People might think it’s a manageable group, but the reality is very different. Women’s football has made huge strides in recent years. Every team is improving, working hard, and investing in development,” she said. “This group is tricky, and we have to treat it with the seriousness it deserves. Qualification won’t be handed to us—we’ll need to earn it through hard work and discipline.”
The 24-year-old, who has been named Africa’s best women’s goalkeeper for two consecutive years, is embracing her leadership role with determination. She emphasized that WAFCON carries as much emotional and competitive weight for her as the World Cup.
“To me, AFCON holds the same weight as a World Cup. The atmosphere, the stakes, the intensity—it’s all there. And personally, I’ve never been the starting goalkeeper when we’ve won a title. This time, I want to lift that trophy from the pitch to play a real part in the victory,” she added.
Nnadozie, who first made headlines as an 18-year-old goalkeeper at the 2019 World Cup, is now captain of the Super Falcons. Her focus and leadership will be vital as Nigeria begins their WAFCON campaign in Morocco from July 5 to 26, aiming to reclaim their place at the summit of African women’s football.
Article updated 3 weeks ago. Content is written and modified by multiple authors.
