Nigeria clinch record 10th WAFCON title
Football
Nigeria clinched a record 10th WAFCON title after a stunning 3-2 comeback win over Morocco in Rabat.
Nigeria staged a sensational comeback to defeat hosts Morocco 3-2 in the final of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) at the Olympic Stadium in Rabat on Saturday night, sealing a record-extending 10th continental crown.
The Super Falcons, who labelled their campaign “Mission X”, looked dead and buried after conceding twice in the opening 25 minutes. Ghizlane Chebbak struck first for Morocco in the 13th minute, curling a right-footed effort beyond Nigeria goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, before Sanaa Mssoudy doubled the advantage with a low finish following a loose ball inside the box.
Trailing 2-0 at half-time, Nigeria emerged a different side after the interval. Coach Randy Waldrum’s substitutions proved decisive, with Jennifer Echegini and Rinsola Babajide adding fresh impetus to the attack.
The turning point came in the 63rd minute when VAR intervened to award Nigeria a penalty for a handball by Nouhaila Benzina. Esther Okoronkwo confidently converted to spark hope of an unlikely comeback.
Just eight minutes later, Okoronkwo turned provider, driving into the box before teeing up Folashade Ijamilusi, who slotted home to level the score at 2-2. Morocco thought they had a lifeline when awarded a penalty for a Nigerian handball in the 79th minute, but the decision was overturned after another VAR review.
With the match seemingly heading for extra time, Echegini delivered the killer blow in the 88th minute, sweeping home from Okoronkwo’s free-kick to complete a remarkable turnaround and secure Nigeria’s 10th WAFCON title.
Final Score
Morocco 2 (Chebbak 13’, Mssoudy 24’)
Nigeria 3 (Okoronkwo 64’ pen, Ijamilusi 71’, Echegini 88’)
The result sees Nigeria reaffirm their status as the dominant force in African women’s football, while Morocco suffer the heartbreak of a second successive defeat in a WAFCON final on home soil.
The Super Falcons, who labelled their campaign “Mission X”, looked dead and buried after conceding twice in the opening 25 minutes. Ghizlane Chebbak struck first for Morocco in the 13th minute, curling a right-footed effort beyond Nigeria goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, before Sanaa Mssoudy doubled the advantage with a low finish following a loose ball inside the box.
Trailing 2-0 at half-time, Nigeria emerged a different side after the interval. Coach Randy Waldrum’s substitutions proved decisive, with Jennifer Echegini and Rinsola Babajide adding fresh impetus to the attack.
The turning point came in the 63rd minute when VAR intervened to award Nigeria a penalty for a handball by Nouhaila Benzina. Esther Okoronkwo confidently converted to spark hope of an unlikely comeback.
Just eight minutes later, Okoronkwo turned provider, driving into the box before teeing up Folashade Ijamilusi, who slotted home to level the score at 2-2. Morocco thought they had a lifeline when awarded a penalty for a Nigerian handball in the 79th minute, but the decision was overturned after another VAR review.
With the match seemingly heading for extra time, Echegini delivered the killer blow in the 88th minute, sweeping home from Okoronkwo’s free-kick to complete a remarkable turnaround and secure Nigeria’s 10th WAFCON title.
Final Score
Morocco 2 (Chebbak 13’, Mssoudy 24’)
Nigeria 3 (Okoronkwo 64’ pen, Ijamilusi 71’, Echegini 88’)
The result sees Nigeria reaffirm their status as the dominant force in African women’s football, while Morocco suffer the heartbreak of a second successive defeat in a WAFCON final on home soil.
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