Nigeria’s Super Falcons won a record-extending 10th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title Saturday night, coming back from two goals down to beat hosts Morocco 3-2 inside the 21,000-capacity Olympic Stadium in Rabat.
It was a dramatic turnaround never witnessed before in the final of Africa’s women’s football showpiece.
Until Saturday night, Super Falcons were unbeaten from the group stage to the final. And they deservedly won the $1 million prize money and the brand new WAFCON trophy for the winning team.
Jennifer Echegini scurried Esther Okoronkwo’s set-piece from outside the box into the Moroccan net for Nigeria’s winning goal.
Before that winner, the hosts raced into the lead in the first 25 minutes through Ghizlane Chebbak in the 13th minute and Sanaa Mssoudy.
But Okoronkwo pulled back from the penalty spot in the 64th minute, while Folashade Ijamilusi levelled scores in the 71st minute.
Super Falcons thereafter gained momentum, dominating the game.
It was not the first time that Falcons won the final in front of partisan home crowd.
In 2016, Nigeria played against the host nation Cameroon and won in front of 40,000 capacity partisan fans.
Until Saturday night, Falcons, who have long been the dominant force in African women’s football, have not been shy in expressing their intentions of reclaiming the title they last won in 2018.
The country’s football federation’s Mission X was fulfilled as
Okoronkwo was picked as the player of the match, while Chiamaka Nnadozie emerged best goalkeeper of the tournament.
Rasheedat Ajibade was the player of the tournament.
