Ihezuo’s late strike send Super Falcons to WAFCON quarter-finals

Nigeria scored a late winner against Botswana to become the first side to book a place in the quarter-finals at the 2024 Women's Africa Cup of Nations

Chinwendu Ihezuo netted the only goal in Casablanca in the 89th minute when she slid in to meet a low right-wing cross from fellow substitute Esther Okoronkwo and bundled the ball home past Botswana goalkeeper Sedilame Boseja.

Victory put Nigeria top of Group B, with their perfect record assuring them of a top-two finish, after North African rivals Tunisia and Algeria played out a 0-0 draw earlier on Thursday.

Algeria are second in the group table on four points, with Tunisia in third after securing their first point at this year's finals.

Botswana have lost both their games and are on the brink of an early exit, having reached the quarter-finals on their debut in 2022.

The final round of group fixtures will see Nigeria face Algeria and Tunisia take on Botswana on Sunday, with both games kicking off at 19:00 GMT.

However, the situation in Group B has been complicated after the Confederation of African Football (Caf) announced it has opened an investigation into "alleged violations" of its statutes and regulations by Algeria at the finals.

Nigeria are Africa's top-ranked side and had won 2-0 on the only previous meeting between the sides at the Wafcon finals, but it was Botswana who had the first chance of the game.

However, Refilwe Tholakele's right-foot volley was well saved by Chiamaka Nnadozie, who recently signed for Brighton & Hove Albion.

Ashleigh Plumptre and Toni Payne both sent efforts off target for the Super Falcons in the first half and the West Africans showed more purpose after the break.

Plumptre once again came close when she hit a long-range shot that Boseja tipped over just after the hour mark.

The Mares goalkeeper then made a superb save to deny Jennifer Echegini in the final 10 minutes.

Just when it seemed that the contest would finish as a stalemate Ihezuo finally got the breakthrough for the record nine-times Wafcon winners, much to the delight of the Nigeria bench and their travelling fans.

The Super Eagles can now look forward to the last eight, while Botswana will need to beat Tunisia to stand any chance of qualifying as one of the best third-placed sides - a feat they achieved three years ago.