FULL LIST: Ajibade Wins MVP, Nnadozie, Crowned Best Goalkeeper At 2024 WAFCON

The recently concluded 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), which they won with a stunning comeback victory over Morocco, was dominated by Nigeria.

In a game that will forever be remembered as one of the greatest comebacks in football, the Super Falcons, who were two goals down at half-time, rallied to defeat Morocco 3-2 in Rabat.

READ MORE: “They Understood The Assignment,” “Tinubu Congratulates Super Falcons On WAFCON Victory.”

Of course, that victory led some of the competitors to individual accolades as a result. The Player of the Tournament was named as Captain Rasheedat Ajibade, who also received three Woman of the Match honors. She only scored once, but her success was decisive for Nigeria’s bid for the 10-year WAFCON title.

As the Super Falcons won another title, the winger set an example by demonstrating resilience, hunger, and drive.

Chiamaka Nnadozie, Ajibade’s teammate, was chosen as the tournament’s goalkeeper. Nigeria won the title thanks to the Brighton FC’s quick reflexes and saves. She only conceded once in the semi-final against South Africa, which she only did once. For the first time in open play, she was denied two goals by the Moroccan Atlas Lionesses.

Ghizlane Chebbak of Morocco, who scored the most goals overall, won the tournament’s Golden Boot. She had five strikes to her name, including the first for her team in the Saturday final.

South Africa, who lost to Nigeria in the semi-final, received the Fair Play Award for their tact and teamwork throughout the tournament.

Justin Madugu, who was appointed interim coach for Nigeria, was also given the award for guiding the 2018 WAFCON winners to the trophy.

With Saturday’s victory, Nigeria’s quest for a 10th title, known as “Mission X,” came to an end. The Super Falcons rose to the challenge and wrote their names in the WAFCON history books, despite some initial championship fans’ disproportions at the beginning.

Next year’s WAFCON will be held in Morocco.

Winners of the WAFCON 2024 Awards

‘They Understood The Assignment,’ Tinubu Congratulates Super Falcons On WAFCON Victory

The Super Falcons of Nigeria won the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) with the highest honors on Saturday, President Bola Tinubu congratulated them on their record 10th continental title.

Morocco was the host nation’s opponent, but the Falcons came back strong to defeat them 3-2.

They chose to accept this mission, the president declared on his official X account. They comprehended the task.

“Our Superior Super Falcons delivered in true Nigerian fashion,” said the seller. Never, ever, ever. They left . They observed.

They “have won once more” 10-time African champions. #MissionX: Complete!

The Super Falcons were praised for their significant accomplishments by Oluremi Tinubu, the First Lady of Nigeria, who also attributed it to their upbeat spirit.

She signed a statement, reading, “I celebrate you, our beautiful and lovely Super Falcons, for the historic victory of your 10th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations championship.”

Your overwhelmingly positive 3-2 victory is indeed remarkable and commendable.
You put forth a lot of effort, perseverance, and an unwavering Nigerian spirit, and it is not just another trophy. For this sweet victory, we express our gratitude to God.

You have once more made Nigeria our beloved country’s proud and established your status as the African football queens.

Super Falcons Make Phenomenal Comeback Against Morocco To Lift 10th WAFCON Title

In the Women’s African Cup of Nations (WAFCON) final on Saturday, the Super Falcons came back to defeat Morocco 3-2.

The Falcons have now won their tenth African Women’s trophy.

Justin Madugu’s team was hoping to redress their 2024 semifinal defeat to the North Africans.

Morocco’s No. 18 Sanaa Mssoudy and Nigeria’s No. 13 Midfielder Deborah Abiodun and No. 18 Sanaa Mssoudy cross the line in the 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations final football game at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat on July 26, 2025. (Photo by Abdel Majid BZIOUAT/AFP)

RELATED: “They Understood The Assignment,” “Tinubu Congratulates Super Falcons On WAFCON Victory,”


The Moroccans would start to show first blood in the 13th minute when Ghizlane Chebbak, the tournament’s top scorer, was fortunate to have a loose ball play before the team broke away to Nigeria’s Chiamaka Nnadozie.

Ijamilusi Folashade tried to resolve issues, but she was unable to do so by giving Khadija Er-Rmichi a weak shot.

The hosts scored two goals in the 28th minute when Mssoudy received the ball on the left edge of the box and fired a low, left-footed shot into the back of the net.

Women’s CAF Football on X

With the score at 2-0, both teams would head for the tunnel, Morocco in the ascendancy.

The Super Falcons’ pressing and passing were much more deliberate, and they brought the second half to a new high.

When the Moroccan keeper collided with Rabbah, her own defender, before the defense intervened, they were almost given the lead, and Rabbah came to her rescue.

Before Morocco and Nigeria’s 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations final football game at Rabat’s Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium on July 26, 2025, Nigerian supporters cheer their team. (Photo by Abdel Majid BZIOUAT/AFP)

The Super Falcons would benefit from the relentless pressure, however, in the 63rd minute when Ijamilusi hooked the ball back and hit Benzina.

Nigerians had a glimmer of hope when Okoronkwo quietly found the back of the net.

In the 71st minute, Okoronkwo ran down the right and cut into the area before squaring up in peace with Ijamilusi to bring him home.

Liverpool Beaten 4-2 By AC Milan In Hong Kong Pre-Season Friendly

Premier League champions Liverpool were defeated 4-2 by AC Milan on Saturday in a pre-season friendly in Hong Kong by former Chelsea midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek.

At Kai Tak Stadium, Liverpool dominated possession with record signing Florian Wirtz in his first start, but a shaky defense was punished for all four Milan goals.

Dominik Szoboszlai’s superb strike 16 minutes later made it 1-1 at half-time set the tone for the Italian side as Rafael Leao opened the scoring.

READ MORE: “Tinubu Backs Super Falcons,” “Bring the WAFCON Trophy Home,” and “Tinubu Brings the Trophy Home.”

Six minutes after the break, Loftus-Cheek and substitute Noah Okafor’s two goals, either side of Cody Gakpo’s late header, secured the victory for AC Milan.

In the 49, 704 sellout crowd, Liverpool’s Hong Kong supporters were far more popular than AC Milan’s.

On July 26, 2025, during their friendly exhibition football match at the Kai Tak Stadium in Hong Kong, Mohamed Salah (C) and Luca Stephenson (L) attack the AC Milan goal. (Photo by Peter PARKS/AFP)

Diogo Jota, who passed away earlier this month in a car crash, was paid a sincere tribute.

Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish laid flowers in front of the crowd, who responded by displaying a mosaic with the word “DJ20” in honor of Jota’s retired number 20 shirt.

Leao, who also scored the opener, remembered Jota, who was also a Portuguese player, who prayed quietly and arranged the number 20 with his fingers.

Wirtz’ 45-minute performance, which hints at why Bayer Leverkusen reportedly paid a reported $150 million for the German playmaker, made him appear comfortable in charge of the company’s operations.

At half-time, left-back Milos Kerkez and right-back Jeremie Frimpong, two other recent signings from Liverpool, both made the start-up lineup.

Hugo Ekitike, who had only flown in two days prior to joining his new teammates, was not ready to participate. He had already been signed from Eintracht Frankfurt for a reportedly $92 million.

Due to the absence of Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz from the matchday squad, Liverpool did not have a recognized central striker.

On Wednesday, Liverpool will travel to Japan to face the Yokohama F-Marinos.

‘Bring WAFCON Trophy Home,’ Tinubu Backs Super Falcons

President Bola Tinubu has promised to support the Super Falcons in the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) final on Saturday in order for them to win the coveted trophy.

He signed a statement on Saturday that contained this information.

By God’s grace, you will succeed. The tenth is best! Bring home the trophy. Your fellow countrymen and women, both young and old, support you.

He said, “I look forward to the team, the trophy, and the Abuja officials.”

Tinubu praised the team’s perseverance throughout the competition.

Ajibade and the Super Falcons celebrate a goal.

You face Morocco in the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) final at the Olympic Stadium in Rabat tonight, according to him as he said, “You are on the cusp of history.”

“Over the past three weeks, your performance at this tournament has been incredible.” You have done a great job of standing up for our nation.

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The women showed sportsmanship, especially when Gabriela Salgado, a Banyana Banyana player, was taken by them, according to the president.

Super Falcons players visiting Gabriela Salgado, South African player, in the hospital. X/@NGSuper_Falcons

You have shown true sportsmanship both on and off the field. Following the semi-final match, I was delighted to see pictures of your visit to South Africa’s Banyana Banyana’s Gabriela Salgado, who was injured.

We Africans value our shared humanity, empathy, and sisterly affection in high regard, he continued.

He praised the Falcons for their outstanding performance, as well as his administration’s support and backing of Nigerians.

Nigeria
Nigeria has won the title nine times in Africa. Super_Falcons X@NG

You are already champions if statistics alone win matches. Unbeaten in the group stages, triumphant in the knockout rounds, and with only one goal in the semi-finals. You won all of your previous nine finals, aside from this.

We wish you the best of luck tonight as you attempt to win the record tenth continental title, in the name of a grateful nation.

The Federal Republic of Nigeria’s government and people are in full support of you, according to Tinubu, who has sent a presidential delegation to Rabat to celebrate your victory.

The delegation includes, among others, the Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Shehu Dikko, the Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism, and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, the Minister of State for Finance, Doris Uzoka-Anite, the Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Suleiman-Ibrahim, and the Chairman of the National Sports Commission,

Top Footballers Afraid To Speak Out Against Playing Too Many Games —FIFPro Chief

The general secretary of the global players’ union FIFPro stated on Friday that the top footballers are reluctant to speak out against playing too many games because they fear the impact it might have on their careers.

After FIFPro met with 58 national player unions from around the world to discuss concerns about FIFA’s management of global football, Alex Phillips spoke at a meeting in Amsterdam.

The first 32-team Club World Cup in the United States, which was praised as a huge success by FIFA president Gianni Infantino but criticised by FIFPro for the demands it has placed on players who were already battling a crowded schedule, came less than two weeks after the end of the tournament.

Some of the best players claimed they hadn’t had a rest for “X” of time before the Club World Cup, according to Phillips.

One of them even said, “I’ll only get a rest when I’m injured.” Some people were cynical about speaking up, and some were resigned.

Then, two weeks later, you notice some of the same players recording social media videos saying, “We think the Club World Cup is great,” as a result of their employers’ orders to do it.

Players are unable to speak up in this contradictory circumstance. They are in a vicious position. They are free to speak up, but it may have consequences.

FIFPro cited FIFA’s recent emphasis on the United States’ Club World Cup as an example of the organization ignoring a number of fundamentally more crucial issues that players around the world are facing.

In a statement, FIFPro cited the “overloaded” match schedule, the concern over the Club World Cup, and “ongoing disregard for players’ social rights. It is unacceptable for an organization that claims global leadership.

READ MORE: 2024 WAFCON: Nigeria’s 10th Crown Vs. Morocco’s Title-Chasing Host.

Last year, FIFPro Europe complained to the European Commission, alleging that FIFA had violated its policies with regard to the organization’s handling of international match days.

Following FIFA’s decision to hold a meeting on the eve of the most recent Club World Cup final, the union held the summit on Friday.

In an interview with The Athletic, Argentinian president of FIFPro, Sergio Marchi, this week criticized Infantino’s leadership of FIFA and claimed that he was “running an autocracy.”

FIFA responded to FIFPro on Friday by calling for dialogue “with legitimate bodies that put player welfare first” and claiming to have unsuccessfully attempted to persuade the union to come to its meeting in New York on July 12th.

The Zurich-based organization stated that “FIFA is extremely disappointed by the FIFPRO leadership’s increasingly divisive and contradictory tone.”

This strategy “demonstrates that FIFPRO has chosen to pursue a path of public confrontation” in order to protect “their own personal positions and interests” rather than engage in constructive dialogue.