A much-changed Super Falcons side were held to a 0-0 draw by Algeria in their final Group B match of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Casablanca, Morocco tonight.
Despite the draw, the Super Falcons won the group with seven points, while Algeria finished second, two points behind, as both teams advanced to the quarter-finals.
Nine-time champions Nigeria will meet impressive Zambia in the last eight, three years after the Copper Queens defeated the Super Falcons in the third-place match.
Super Falcons head coach Justine Madugu made eight changes to the team that started the first two games against Tunisia and Botswana, bringing in the likes of Chinwendu Ihezuo, Jennifer Echegini and Ifeanyi Onumonu to make their first starts of the tournament.
As expected, the Super Falcons were dominant but Algeria defended superbly and restricted the overwhelming favourites to few chances.
Both teams are yet to concede at this WAFCON as Algeria await their quarter-final opponents, who will be the runners-up of Group C.
The Super Falcons will battle Zambia in Casablanca on Thursday for a spot in the semi-finals.
In Group B’s other match on Sunday night, Botswana scored in stoppage time to beat Tunisia 2-1, finishing third in the table and waiting to see if they will secure one of the quarter-final tickets for the two best third-place teams.