The Super Falcons of Nigeria, who were without key players, were subjected to their third defeat in WAFCON 2022 as She-polopolo beat them 1-0 to win the bronze medal.
Katongo’s 30th-minute goal made the difference as the She-polopolo maintained that lead till the final whistle was blown.
It is the first time the Zambians would get this far and the first time they would win a medal since the inception of the tournament. They were determined and also stopped the Falcons from dictating the pace.
This was also the first time the Super Falcons would suffer three defeats in the WAFCON, with the first and second coming in their clash against South Africa and Morocco respectively.
The absence of Rasheedat Ajibade and Halimatu Ayinde, who missed out due to suspension, was heavily felt; also missing was Captain Onome Ebi, who suffered a hamstring in the clash against Morocco.
But Coach Waldrum would need to begin to build a team for the World Cup and work on other tactical areas in terms of finishing if the Falcons would make a positive impact at the Women’s World Cup.
Asisat Oshoala, who won the CAF Award for best female in Africa just yesterday, was present to cheer her teammates on her fifth individual award, but it did not bring luck to the Super Falcons, who have now
suffered their second defeat in a third-place match of the WAFCON.
This is the third time the Super Falcons have played a third-place match. They have lost twice and got only one win and that was in the 2008 edition and after penalties to Cameroon.
Their first-ever loss in the third-place clash was against Cameroon in the 2012 edition and the score line ended 1-0 in favour of the Indomitable Lionesses.
Before the match, the Super Falcons had suffered psychological trauma, battling with the Nigeria Football Federation over unpaid allowances.
