Nigeria won a 10th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title on Saturday night after a come-from-behind 3-2 win over hosts Morocco in a drama-filled Final in Rabat.
The win completes the Super Falcons’ revenge against all three teams they lost to in the 2022 finals, also staged in Morocco.
They defeated Zambia 5-0 in the quarter finals to avenge a third-place defeat by the Copper Queens in 2022. In the semi-finals, they edged South Africa’s Banyana Banyana, who had beaten them 2-1 in the group stage in 2022. In the final, they defeated the Atlas Lionesses that had beaten them on a penalty shootout in the semi-finals in 2022.
Morocco’s Atlas Lionesses started like a house on fire after a superlative opening 24 minutes that gave them a two-goal lead.
One Defensive Error After Another
Captain Ghizlane Chebbak rifled home a well-placed shot from the edge of the box in the 13th minute, capitalizing on an inadvertent pass by midfielder Halimatu Ayinde.
The Lionesses were smelling the trophy 11 minutes later, when Saana Mssoudy, receiving the ball from a cross on the right, darted past Michelle Alozie to smash past goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie.
Five minutes before the break, Rasheedat Ajibade squared into the box as the Falcons pushed forward, but the ball agonizingly missed three of her teammates.
Nigeria Avenges 2022 WAFCON: The Esther Okoronkwo Show
The Falcons, champions nine times in the 12 previous editions, started their fightback in the 64th minute with Esther Okoronkwo converting a penalty kick.
Vibrant, fit-fighting and energetic, Okoronkwo took matters into her own hands again seven minutes later, bulldozing her way into the Moroccan eighteen-yard box and then finding Folasade Ijamilusi, who connected sweetly past the goalkeeper.
The hosts thought they had won a penalty in the 78th minute when the ball struck defender Tosin Demehin’s hand, but after a long check with the Video Assistant Referee, Namibian referee Antsino Twanyanyukwa struck off the penalty award.
The Super Falcons were now in the ascendancy, and it was no surprise when substitute Jennifer Echegini gloriously swept home the third goal from another Esther Okoronkwo free-kick in the 88th minute.
Nigeria captain Rasheedat Ajibade was named Player of the Tournament, while Africa’s best goalkeeper for the past two years, Chiamaka Nnadozie, was named Goalkeeper of the Tournament.
Victory earned Nigeria a one-million-dollar prize, the highest in the competition’s history, and a brand new trophy.
Also, the victory ensures Nigeria avenges 2022 WAFCON losses, keeping its record of never losing a Women’s AFCON Final.