WAFCON: Nigeria will treat group with ‘seriousness it deserves’ – Nnadozie

Photo Credit - Nnadozie Chiamaka.

Nigeria national women’s team goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie has labelled their group at the 2024 TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) as tricky and one they should treat seriously.

The Super Falcons have been drawn in Group B alongside Tunisia, Algeria, and Botswana. Asked about the draw by CAFOnline, Nnadozie said: “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.

“We saw it in the last AFCON, where many of the favourites were shaken. No one can be underestimated anymore. 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.”

On Nigeria losing the previous tournament in the semi-finals stage against Morocco, she explained: “It was incredibly tough to accept. We really wanted to defend our crown, but football can be like that. Some days, things just don’t go your way.

“That match against Morocco, we lost partly because the opposition had a well-executed strategy. It’s not that Nigeria is weaker, it’s that other nations now see us as the team to beat. They prepare accordingly. That forces us to stay humble and to keep raising our level.”

She continued: “Absolutely. Wearing the Super Falcons jersey means carrying a legacy. It means playing for the generations before us who won everything. The spotlight is always on us. When another team loses, it’s not a big deal.

“When Nigeria loses, it feels like a national crisis! But we must keep calm. We’re athletes, we make mistakes too. The key is to turn that pressure into positive energy and motivation. Our goal is clear: to go all the way, but with focus and intelligence.”