July 26, (THEWILL) — Nigeria’s Super Falcons staged a remarkable second-half comeback to defeat Morocco 3-2 in the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) final on Saturday night at the Olympic Stadium in Rabat.
Trailing 2-0 after first-half goals from Ghizlane Chebbak and Sanaa Mssoudy, the Falcons fought back with three unanswered strikes to secure their record-extending 10th continental title.
The victory marked a triumphant return to the summit of African women’s football for Nigeria, which had last won the tournament in 2018.
Morocco appeared in control early, with Chebbak’s 13th-minute strike from the edge of the box setting the tone. Mssoudy doubled the lead in the 24th minute, capitalising on a loose ball to slot home a low finish.
Nigeria struggled to create clear chances before half-time, leaving the hosts firmly in command. However, a tactical shift and second-half substitutions revitalised the Falcons, who intensified their attacking pressure after the break.
The turning point came in the 63rd minute when a VAR review awarded Nigeria a penalty for handball against Nouhaila Benzina. Esther Okoronkwo converted calmly, reducing the deficit to 2-1.
Eight minutes later, Okoronkwo turned provider, setting up Folashade Ijamilusi for a close-range equaliser. Morocco nearly regained the lead with a penalty of their own, but the decision was overturned after another VAR intervention, much to the dismay of the home crowd.
The decisive moment arrived in the 88th minute when substitute Jennifer Echegini met Okoronkwo’s free-kick with a clinical finish, sealing a dramatic 3-2 victory.
The goal sparked celebrations among the Nigerian players, who had overturned a two-goal deficit for the first time in a WAFCON final. Morocco, meanwhile, suffered heartbreak for the second consecutive home final after their 2022 loss to South Africa.
With this victory, Nigeria reaffirmed its dominance in African women’s football, completing its self-styled ‘Mission X’—a 10th WAFCON triumph.
The Super Falcons now shift focus to next year’s Women’s World Cup, where they will aim to translate continental success onto the global stage.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
