Nigeria seal 10th Wafcon as comeback stuns Morocco

With a thrilling 3-2 victory over Morocco, Nigeria won the second-half of its record-extending 10th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title.

Ghizlane Chebbak’s excellent curling work and Sanaa Mssoudy’s scuffed shot gave the Atlas Lionesses a 2-0 lead at the break in Rabat.

After the break, Esther Okoronkwo, who handled Folamide Ijamilusi’s cross for the West Africans, pulled a goal back from the penalty spot in the 64th minute.

The Super Falcons’ 21, 000-capacity Olympic Stadium was silenced as they slammed to the ground in celebration at the end of a seemingly unthinkable revival that will stick in everyone’s memory.

Nigeria’s campaign was billed as Mission X, and they succeeded in achieving their goal, recapturing the title they last won in 2018 and preserving their 100% winning streak in the Wafcon finals.

Morocco, meanwhile, had signed 2023 Women’s World Cup coach Jorge Vilda after splitting from Spain in an effort to win their first continental crown, but they have since lost back-to-back Wafcon finals.

The Super Falcons become the first team to win the new-look Wafcon trophy and collect $1 million in prize money, which has doubled since the last edition.

However, by the time Gianni Infantino and Patrice Motsepe, the Confederation of African Football counterpart, took the stage for the presentation, the stadium was largely empty.

Players were frequently asked about winning their 10th Wafcon in media interviews, and Nigeria had not been shy about expressing that desire.

As a result of coach Justin Madugu’s discovery of the ideal blend in the knockout phase, the Super Falcons have undoubtedly backed up their off-field talk in their Morocco appearances this month.

However, Nigeria couldn’t match Morocco’s level in the first half due to the top-ranked side in Africa’s poor start.

In the 13th minute, the North Africans doubled their lead with a fine shot from the left-hand upright, and Mssoudy scored a header that was well received by Chebbak, who then sent a fine shot just inside the left-hand upright.

After VAR’s intervention to make it 2-1 from the spot, Okoronkwo kept her composure personified before pause and putting the ball on the plate for Ijamilusi.

Another significant moment occurred when Blessing Demehin was just two yards away in the 79th minute when Imane Saoud assisted a cross onto Blessing Demehin’s hand.

When Namibian referee Antsino Twanyukwa was called to the VAR screen and overturned her decision almost four minutes later, Chebbak had the ball on the spot.

And Echegini swung home from six yards out before Okoronkwo’s pin-point free kick, which was delivered from Okoronkwo’s delivery.

In recent years, Morocco has invested a lot of money in both men’s and women’s football, with King Mohammed VI’s unwavering support, but a defeat leaves the wait for silverware to come out for the country to last.

After South Africa defeated the Atlas Lionesses in the 2022 edition’s final, Vilda was brought in after his exit from Spain following an incident at the Women’s World Cup final when then-federation president Luis Rubiales kissed player Jenni Hermoso without her consent.

Morocco came from behind in three games and needed penalties to defeat Ghana in the final four, but the 44-year-old has added elements to their play.

The North Africans will now attempt to rebuild before hosting the 2026 Wafcon, which is scheduled to take place in March of next year.

Chebbak will have to accept the golden boot after acing five goals in an effort to emulate her late father Larbi, who won the 1976 Africa Cup of Nations with Morocco.