Nigeria's Stunning Comeback Seals 10th WAFCON Title Over Morocco
What a night it was in Rabat! The 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations final gave us drama, heartbreak, and ultimately, triumph — and it was Nigeria’s Super Falcons who stole the show with an absolutely breathtaking comeback against hosts Morocco, clinching their record-extending 10th WAFCON title .
Let’s talk about how it all unfolded. At halftime, if you were watching, you’d have thought Morocco had one hand on the trophy. The Atlas Lionesses came out flying and stunned Nigeria with two early goals. Ghizlane Chebbak curled in a beauty in the 13th minute, and just 11 minutes later, Sanaa Mssoudy added a scrappy second. The home crowd was buzzing, and Nigeria looked rattled — completely out of sorts, and on the verge of losing a WAFCON final for the first time ever.
But then came the second half, and with it, a totally different Nigeria. Esther Okoronkwo was the spark that lit the fire. After a VAR check confirmed a Moroccan handball in the box, she calmly slotted in a penalty in the 64th minute to bring hope back to the Super Falcons. Just seven minutes later, she broke into the Moroccan box and squared the ball perfectly to Folashade Florence Ijamilusi, who tapped it in to equalize. Suddenly, the momentum had shifted, and Morocco — who had looked so confident — were on the back foot.
There was late drama too. Morocco thought they had a chance to retake the lead with a penalty in the 79th minute, but after a lengthy VAR review, the decision was overturned. Relief for Nigeria — and they took full advantage.
Also Read:- Amorim’s United Ready to Test New Look Against West Ham in New Jersey
- Brad Gilbert Blasts Medvedev’s Mid-Game Time-Out in Washington Match
With just two minutes left in regular time, Okoronkwo delivered once again, swinging in a pinpoint cross from a free-kick. Jennifer Echegini, who had only been on the pitch for about 30 minutes, met it perfectly and buried the winner. Cue wild celebrations. The stadium was stunned into silence — except for a small but loud group of Nigerian fans who were absolutely losing it.
By the final whistle, Nigeria had completed what can only be described as a mission accomplished . This tournament had been dubbed Mission X by the team — X for their 10th title — and they delivered in style. It wasn’t just about the silverware either. Esther Okoronkwo was named Player of the Match for her role in all three goals, Rasheedat Ajibade was named Player of the Tournament, and Chiamaka Nnadozie claimed the Golden Glove.
As for Morocco, it was a second straight WAFCON final loss — heartbreaking for Ghizlane Chebbak and her teammates. They played with heart, scored two brilliant goals, but couldn’t hang on. And while their investment in women's football continues to grow, they’ll now regroup with eyes set on hosting the 2026 edition.
But for now, Nigeria reign supreme once again in African women’s football , rewriting the script when it mattered most.
Read More:
0 Comments