Nigeria are Women’s African Cup of Nations champions for a record extending tenth time after a stunning comeback victory over hosts Morocco in Rabat.
After falling 2-0 down by half time, the Super Falcon’s soared back in the second half. Goals from Esther Okoronkwo, Folashade Ijamilusi and Jennifer Echegini were enough to complete the comeback and shock the hosts.
Over a year after the tournament was originally slated to hold it’s finale the 2024 edition of the Women’s African Cup of Nations came to a dramatic conclusion on Saturday night. On a mild summer evening in Rabat, Morocco dreamt of their first ever Women’s African Cup of Nation’s trophy while their opponents looked to secure their record extending tenth.
Morocco made one change from the side that snuck past Ghana on penalties in the semi final with Élodie Nakkach dropping to the bench. Najat Badri came into the starting line up in place of the Al Ahli midfielder after having started the four previous matches leading up to the semi final. Fatima Tagnaout remained side lined with a foot injury.
Nigeria on the other hand had ousted the defending champions South Africa from the tournament in the semi final. That was thanks to a 94th minute goal from Michelle Alozie of Houston Dash. Justine Madugu made one change from that victorious side with Jennifer Echegini of PSG on the bench and 21 year old Deborah Abiodun trusted to start in her place.The eyebrow raising decision to omit Asisat Oshoala from the starting line up would once again steal the pre match headlines for Nigeria.
These two have history at the tournament, with Morocco knocking Nigeria out of the 2022 edition on penalties in the semi final. Nigeria were out for revenge.
The Line ups
MOR: Er-Rmichi, Aït El Haj, Benzina, Rabbah, Redouani, Mrabet, Ghebbak, Badri, Mssoudy, Ouzraoui, Jraïdi
NIG: Nnadozie, Alozie, Ohale, Demehin, Plumptre, Ayinde, Abiodun, Ijamilusi, Ajibade, Ihezuo, Okoronkwo
The Action
The match began with a touch of wonderful flair from the Moroccan goal scorer in the semi final Sakina Ouzraoui. Given the opportunity to run at former Leicester City defender Ashleigh Plumptre for the first time, she nutmegged her marker before being crowded off the ball.
Sanaâ Mssoudy had the hosts first shot on goal shortly after. A wide free kick from captain Ghizlane Chebbak was met on the volley by Mssoudy after a clearance out of the Nigeria box, but the effort was well blocked by Plumptre. Nigeria began to probe and Rasheedat Ajibade found her way into the box but her cut back did not find a Super Falcon in front of goal.
At the twelfth minute mark the ball found Moroccan captain Chebbak in space on the edge of the bax. Chebbak took aim, and finessed the ball powerfully into the bottom left corner in sensational fashion. That was the first goal Nigeria had conceded from open play in the tournament.
Just ten minutes later Morocco would double their lead. A speculative long ball into the box from Hanane Aït El Haj caused a mix up at the back from Nigeria. The ball fortuitously bounced off the head of Ibtissam Jraïdi who had tumbled to the ground in the box.The ball found its way to Mssoudy who touched it past Alozie, caught wrong footed before she fired the ball into the opposite corner past Chiamaka Nnadozie to make it 2-0 to the hosts.
Mssoudy continued to wow the Nigerian defence with her quick feet bearing down on goal more than once in the first 45 minutes.
Nigeria, seemingly shellshocked looked to their captain for inspiration. The Atletico Madrid winger Ajibade almost provided it, storming into the Morocco box leaving more than one Atlas Lioness on the floor. Her chipped ball to the back post however evaded those waiting in the middle.
As Nigeria pushed forward, spaces opened up in behind and Morocco sought to take advantage. With minutes remaining, they almost had three as Ouzraoui broke and fired from the edge of the box but her effort whistled past the target.
Nigeria came out in the second half looking to put pressure on their opponents. However Morocco’s defence was holding strong in the early minutes with Nouhaila Benzina intervening more than once across the half. However with just under thirty minutes to play it was Benzina, who had not put a foot wrong all evening to that point, who gave away a penalty following a VAR review. It was a clear handball from Folashade Ijamilusi’s cross.
Esther Okoronkwo stepped up and sent Khadija Er-Rmichi the wrong way to pull one back from the spot. As Nigeria looked to take control, Morocco countered, and in a quick move in transition Ouzraoui chopped inside before firing the ball straight at the Nigeria number one.
Nigeria continued to progress forward and were level with less than twenty minutes to play. After a wonderful driving run Okoronkwo found her way into the box before cutting back wonderfully to Ijamilusi who connected to find the back of the net. Nigeria had levelled the scores.
With 15 minutes to play and the scores level, at long last Asisat Oshoala was introduced off the bench. Yet only shortly after it seemed Nigeria had given the hosts a gift with just over ten minutes to play after a handball from Galatasary defender Blessing Demehin in the box was deemed a penalty by the referee. However the drama continued to unfold as the referee was asked to go to the screen by VAR. The referee overturned their decision to award a penalty much to the dismay of the partisan crowd.
Nigeria aimed to take advantage of the malaise Morocco found themselves in after the contentious decision. A ball into the box found Plumptre who could not direct the ball into the back of the net.
With just three minutes remaining Nigeria stole the lead from the home side. Once again Okoronkwo was provider this time from a set piece the right side. She floated into the box and it was turned in by Jennifer Echegini to make it 3-2. Echegini had expertly escaped her marker Benzina to finish with clinical brilliance. Echegini’s goal completed a remarkable comeback to deliver Nigeria their tenth WAFCON title.
Morocco learn their lesson from 2022 final but Nigeria teach them a new one
Before the 25 minute mark Morocco were 2-0 up in this match, the same score line they stared down the barrel of in the 2022 final. That day they were able to secure a one goal consolation in defeat. However tonight they flew out of the blocks with no hint of being overawed by the occasion.
But that was to come, perhaps too defensive in the second half they gave Nigeria the opportunity to comeback into the match and were made to regret it. Some perspective is required however.
Before the tournament in 2022, Morocco had not been past the group stages of WAFCON, now they are back to back finalists. The Atlas Lionesses are reaping the benefits of investment. Their football academy is a state of the art facility opened in 2009 to initially cater to youth and grassroots talent has developed with the players. The centre, used in equal measure by the men’s and women’s teams is flush with facilities, eight football pitches, a gym, medical centre and a five star hotel.
Despite defeat tonight, they are here to stay at the top level of the African game. Nigeria will know how close they came to falling short. A tantalizing tournament in nine months time lies in wait for both these sides, with a place at the World Cup on the line.
The Super Falcons complete stunning turnaround in Rabat
Nigeria had only conceded one goal before tonight in this years WAFCON and not once from open play. However within 25 minutes tonight they had conceded twice more, both from open play. Both goals materialised from Ashleigh Plumptre’s side of the pitch, which will be of disappointment to the defender who has had a good tournament.
Nigeria struggled as Morocco targeted their full backs pressing them high up the pitch in the first half. Mssoudy gave Alozie a torrid time on the left side. But Nigeria, the record champions would persevere and did wonderfully well to come back into the match after going two goals down. Esther Okoronkwo was pivotal in the comeback for the Super Falcons scoring an assisting to get her side ahead.
It was a stunning victory for the Super Falcons, who completely flipped the first half script to steal away the title from the hosts. Nigeria have been the best team in the tournament and victory was a fair reflection of that.
The Halfway Line Player of the Match: Esther Okoronkwo
Okoronkwo scored the goal to get her side back into the match before setting up the goal that levelled things for Nigeria. She never cowed her head even after Nigeria fell behind.
She crossed the ball into the box for Echegini to score the winner. Okoronkwo’s creative intelligence, vision and ulmitately her ability to execute that vision ensured that Nigeria won WAFCON again.
