During the group stage, the ten-time continental champions let in five goals across three matches, highlighted by a 3-2 defeat to Malawi and a subsequent 6-2 win against Egypt. Madugu pointed out that many of these goals resulted from avoidable lapses in focus and stated that rectifying these mistakes is a top priority heading into the knockout rounds.

“We have been a team that has been very solid defensively, but of recent we are conceding very unnecessary goals, which is something that is a bit worrisome, and we have to do a lot of work to try and ensure that the girls do not switch off in the course of any game,” Madugu remarked following the victory over Egypt.

Group Standings and Group Stage Path

Nigeria advanced to the knockout phase by securing second place in Group C following a tight tie-breaker. While Nigeria, Malawi, and Zambia all finished level on six points, tie-breaking criteria involving head-to-head metrics placed Malawi at the top, Nigeria in second, and Zambia out of the competition.

Preparing for Cameroon

The upcoming clash against Cameroon brings a familiar foe to the forefront. Both sides split victories during a pair of pre-tournament friendlies, though Madugu maintains that historical results will have no impact on Sunday’s outcome.

“The last time we played against them, we lost against them in the first leg. Then we beat them in the second leg. So it’s not something that we will use the last result to judge and say, no, because we have beaten them in the past,” the coach explained. “We know what it means, and we will be ready for it.”

The high-stakes quarter-final encounter takes place at the Olympic Stadium in Rabat, with a spot in the WAFCON semi-finals and a ticket to the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil hanging in the balance.

According to a press statement released on Friday by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Francis Nwaze, the Minister made these remarks during an inspection tour of Section 4B of the highway located in Ondo State.

Umahi’s remarks came in direct response to skepticism expressed by former Cross River State Governor Donald Duke, who had previously voiced concerns that the ambitious coastal project might stall before extending past Epe in Lagos State. Dismissing those claims, the Minister asserted that construction has already surpassed Lagos and is actively progressing simultaneously across five states.

“It is up to Niger Delta people to speak up for this project. They should defend it. They should defend the President. They must vote for the President to complete it,” Umahi stated.

Project Progress Across Multiple States

Highlighting the physical milestones achieved so far, the Works Minister detailed the ongoing work across various regional corridors:

• Lagos & Ogun States: Work has expanded past Lagos, with 27 to 28 kilometers of dual carriageway already advancing in Ogun State.

• Ondo State: Construction is ongoing across a 52-kilometer dual carriageway stretch.

• Akwa Ibom & Cross River States: Initial phases covering 47 kilometers in Akwa Ibom and 27 kilometers in Cross River are well underway, with some sections recording over 60 percent completion.

Umahi also noted that groundwork has officially begun on the project’s longest single stretch—a massive 180-kilometer dual carriageway section situated in Akwa Ibom State.

Economic Impact and Security

Hailing the coastal highway as a crown jewel of President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, Umahi stressed that the corridor is designed to link various regional economies while generating mass employment.

“Roads mean employment. In this section alone, Hitech has employed over 1,000 people. Direct and indirect jobs are springing up,” Umahi noted, adding that heightened security measures, including local vigilante collaborations, accompany construction sites to safeguard economic activities, commerce, agriculture, and education.

Addressing Alignment and Funding Controversies

Addressing critics who alleged that the highway’s alignment was deliberately altered to favor private real estate developments, Umahi clarified that the original path was scrapped due to severe engineering hurdles. He pointed out that the initial route would have required navigating deep soil deposits reaching up to 50 meters and constructing three costly ocean-crossing bridges measuring roughly 3.5 kilometers each, making it financially and technically unfeasible.

On financial transparency, the Minister praised the framework governing the infrastructure, noting that Deutsche Bank—the financial backer for Section 1—applaud the engineering and design standards as “in perfection” and oversubscribed the loan facility by $100 million.

Expressing strong confidence in the construction standards delivered by Hitech Construction Company, Umahi concluded that infrastructure built under the current administration is engineered to last a century, welcoming constructive public feedback while urging citizens to support the path toward national development.