Nigeria ready for Cameroon’s physical test in WAFCON quarter-final – Toni Payne

Nigeria’s Super Falcons are prepared for the physical challenge they expect from Cameroon in Sunday’s Women’s African Cup of Nations quarter-final, midfielder Toni Payne says.

The two sides will meet for the second time in the WAFCON quarter-finals, with Nigeria having won the previous encounter 1-0 in 2022. Rasheedat Ajibade scored the decisive goal in the second half of that match.

Payne said Nigeria’s players understood the demands of facing Cameroon and had been preparing for the style of football they are likely to encounter.

“We know it’s going to be a physical game but that’s something we have always prepared for,” she said. “A lot of us have been playing football a long time and we know what it takes to win games.”

The Super Falcons began their Group C campaign with a surprise 3-2 defeat by Malawi. They recovered from that setback, however, securing victories over Zambia and Egypt to finish their group-stage campaign strongly and reach the quarter-finals.

Cameroon topped Group D after beating Ghana and Mali before drawing with Cape Verde, who were making their first appearance in the WAFCON.

The quarter-final will be the 11th meeting between the two heavyweight teams in the knockout stages of the competition. Nigeria have won nine of the previous 10 ties and lost only once.

Cameroon’s physical approach is a familiar feature of the country’s teams, in both men’s and women’s football, and it is an aspect Nigeria have identified ahead of the contest.

Payne also said the squad was confident before the match and ready to build on its progress in the tournament. She added that reaching the knockout stage had been an important target because it kept alive their hopes of qualifying for the World Cup.

The midfielder said the team now wanted to take the next step by advancing to the semi-finals.

Nigeria are the most successful side in the history of the WAFCON, having won the title 10 times. Despite that record, Payne insisted the squad remained motivated by the prospect of adding another trophy.

“I don’t think anyone gets tired of winning, we can appreciate every accomplishment that we made, we are just as hungry and an opportunity to win an 11th title is what we are looking forward to.”

The Super Falcons will now attempt to continue their recovery from the opening-day defeat by Malawi when they face Cameroon on Sunday, with a place in the last four at stake.