Everton Women’s team has extended heartfelt congratulations to Nigerian midfielder Toni Payne and the Super Falcons following their dominant 5-0 victory over Zambia in the quarter-final clash of the 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations on Friday.
Although Payne didn’t feature in the match, her absence went unnoticed as the nine-time African champions dismantled the Copper Queens in style.
The Super Falcons booked their place in the semi-finals thanks to goals from Osinachi Ohale, Esther Okoronkwo, Chiwendu Ihezuo, Tosin Demehin, and Folashade Ijamilusi.
Celebrating the performance, Everton Women posted on X, “A comfortable victory sees Toni Payne’s Nigeria in to the semi-finals of #WAFCON2025!
Two more to go, Naija!”
Before this emphatic win, Nigeria had shown signs of struggle in front of goal, scoring just four times during the group stage, two fewer than Zambia, whose goals were primarily scored by top forwards Barbara Banda and Racheal Kundananji.
The two sides last faced off in the 2022 WAFCON third-place play-off, where Zambia emerged 1-0 winners, but Friday’s result flipped the script.
Toni Payne and her teammates now await the winner of the quarter-final tie between South Africa and Senegal for their semi-final showdown.
In another match played Friday, host nation Morocco advanced with a 3-1 win over Senegal.
The remaining last-eight fixture will see Ghana’s Black Queens battle Algeria for a place in the semi-finals.
