Zambia survived second half pressure from the Super Falcons to beat the defending champions 1-0 and win the third-place match of the Morocco 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations tonight at the Stade Mohamed V in Casablanca.
An unfortunate own goal by Nigeria goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie made all the difference as the Zambians claimed bronze, their first-ever medal in the tournament.
The ball bounced off Nnadozie into the Nigerian net in the 29th minute after Evarine Katongo’s deflected shot hit the upright.
The goal came against the run of play as the Super Falcons were establishing some dominance after a slow start.
Christy Ucheibe had the first meaningful chance of the match in the 20th minute, but she screwed the ball high and wide from inside the Zambian box after Ifeoma Onumonu, Francesca Ordega and Ngozi Okobi had combined to set her up.
Most of the action before and shortly after that opportunity was in midfield, but fortune soon favoured the Copper Queens.
They worked the ball wide to the right side of the Nigerian defence and it was pulled back for Katongo, who hit a speculative shot from outside the box that ricocheted off the post and off Nnadozie into the Super Falcons net.
The Super Falcons had two moments before half-time when they came close to the equaliser.
First, Gift Monday hit the Zambia post with a close-range header in the 38th minute from Michelle Alozie’s cross. The young striker could not sort out her feet to score when the rebound came back to her.
Then, three minutes before the break, Ashleigh Plumptre hit a vicious free-kick from about 25 yards that forced a superb save from Zambia goalkeeper Hazel Nali.
The Falcons kept up their search for the equaliser after the break, with a Zambia player heading the ball off the line from Alozie’s corner kick in the 53rd minute.
The lively Monday then missed a glorious chance four minutes later, steering the ball just wide of the post after being put through by Ordega.
Super Falcons head coach Randy Waldrum made a rash of chances, introducing Vivian Ikechukwu, Uchenna Kanu and others, but the Zambians stood firm to win the bronze medal.
