In a thrilling showdown at the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) held in Rabat, Morocco, Nigeria’s Super Falcons have claimed the prestigious title for the tenth time, overcoming a two-goal deficit to defeat the hosts, Morocco, with a final score of 3-2. This remarkable victory reinforces Nigeria’s dominance in women’s football on the continent, as they have now achieved perfection in all ten of their finals appearances.
The match kicked off with Morocco taking an early advantage, as Chenbak opened the scoring in the 12th minute. Mssoudy further extended Morocco’s lead midway through the first half, leaving the Super Falcons trailing 2-0. However, the Nigerian side displayed incredible resilience and determination.
In the second half, the Super Falcons earned a penalty after a VAR review, which was converted by the Woman of the Match, Okoronkwo, in the 64th minute. This goal ignited hope for Nigeria, and Okoronkwo continued to shine, assisting Ijamilusi’s equalizer in the 71st minute. In a dramatic finish, Okoronkwo set up Echejini for the decisive goal in the 88th minute, sealing Nigeria’s comeback victory.
This year’s WAFCON featured intense competition, culminating in a grand finale that showcased the best of African women’s football. Despite the loss, Morocco exhibited commendable spirit in their second final appearance on home soil but faced the disappointment of consecutive losses in the tournament’s final.
Earlier in the tournament, Ghana’s Black Queens secured the bronze medal after finishing third in Casablanca, defeating South Africa’s Banyana Banyana 4-3 in a penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw after extra time.
As the Super Falcons lift the sparkling new trophy, their legacy as one of Africa’s most successful football teams continues to grow, solidifying their status as champions of women’s football in Africa.
