D’Tigress, Falcons’ road to continental glory

The Super Falcons entered the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco carrying the burden of their 2022 semi-final penalty defeat to the same hosts, whilst D’Tigress encountered preparation issues that threatened their title defence.

Nigeria opened their Group B campaign with a commanding 3-0 victory over Tunisia. The emphatic win suggested the Falcons had found their rhythm early, but their next encounter against Botswana proved that no match would be straightforward.

The Mares, ranked as the tournament’s lowest side, frustrated Nigeria for 89 minutes before Chinwendu Ihezuo’s late strike secured a narrow 1-0 victory. It was a warning sign that Justine Madugu’s side would need to be at their best throughout the competition.

Meanwhile, D’Tigress were stuck in their own pre-tournament chaos. What should have been a routine preparation period turned into a logistical nightmare as the National Sports Commission abandoned the traditional US training camp model. Instead, players based in America and Europe were expected to converge on Abuja for a homecoming tournament that never materialised as planned.

The six-time African champions were supposed to begin camping over a month before the tournament, but flight tickets that should have been distributed in May only arrived on July 16. Coach Rena Wakama’s squad found themselves dealing with administrative challenges that have plagued Nigerian sports for years.

At this time, the Falcons were facing Algeria in their final group match, and coach Madugu rotated his squad, securing a 0-0 draw with a much-changed lineup as Nigeria had already qualified for the knockout stages as Group B winners.

Their quarter-final opponents, Zambia, were expected to provide a stern test. Instead, the Falcons delivered one of their most emphatic performances, crushing Zambia 5-0 with goals from Osinachi Ohale, Esther Okoronkwo, Ihezuo, Oluwatosin Demehin, and Folashade Ijamilusi.

D’Tigress, meanwhile, began their title defence in less than ideal circumstances but with their winning mentality intact. Despite the preparation difficulties, they opened with a commanding 92-45 victory over Rwanda at the Palais des Sports de Treichville in Abidjan, with Elizabeth Balogun leading the scoring with 18 points.

The win extended their remarkable unbeaten run to 25 games, but tougher tests lay ahead. Their second group fixture against Mozambique proved more challenging, with Nigeria losing the first quarter 13-9 before grinding out a 60-55 victory.

In the quarter-finals against Cameroon, the D’Tigress delivered an 83-47 demolition that showcased their depth and quality. The victory set up a mouth-watering semi-final clash with Senegal, now coached by former Nigeria mentor Otis Hughley—a reunion that added emotional complexity to an already high-stakes encounter.