Falcons coach explains Oshoala's tactical substitution in WAFCON win

Super Falcons coach Justine Madugu clarified that star player Asisat Oshoala's substitution before halftime during Nigeria's 6-2 victory over Egypt in the Women's Africa Cup of Nations was a tactical decision, not prompted by injury. Oshoala, who had scored Nigeria's opening goal from a penalty in the 21st minute, was surprisingly withdrawn just before the break.

"Actually, it was not much of an injury, but we felt the energy level was dropping a little," Madugu explained in the post-match interview. "We planned to play with a high intensity, and we felt the energy level had dropped a little, allowing the Egyptians to settle at the back. We didn’t want them to settle so much at the back, and it was not really working the way we had expected. That forced the change that we made."

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Actually, it was not much of an injury, but we felt the energy level was dropping a little. We planned to play with a high intensity, and we felt the energy level had dropped a little, allowing the Egyptians to settle at the back. We didn’t want them to settle so much at the back, and it was not really working the way we had expected. That forced the change that we made.

Oshoala, a six-time CAF Women’s Player of the Year, has scored in every WAFCON edition she has participated in, except for 2022 when an injury ruled her out. She has been a key player for Nigeria, contributing to four WAFCON titles. Despite the substitution, she has scored twice in the current tournament.

Nigeria is now focused on their quarterfinal clash against rivals Cameroon. The team is pursuing a record-extending 11th WAFCON title and aiming to secure qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup. Oshoala expressed the team's determination, emphasizing the importance of fan support and the high stakes involved, particularly after the Super Eagles failed to qualify for the men's World Cup.

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It’s still a long competition, so there is still a lot of time to prepare for the next game. We need their support right now. A World Cup ticket is at stake, and this is the time we need everyone to support the team. We know the Super Eagles didn’t qualify, so we know what’s at stake and we know how Nigerians feel about this.