By 
In one of the most thrilling WAFCON finals in recent history, Nigeria’s Super Falcons staged a stunning second-half comeback to defeat hosts Morocco 3-2 and lift their 10th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title at the Stade Olympique de Rabat.
The final began with high intensity as Morocco, backed by a passionate home crowd, seized early control of the match. The Atlas Lionesses stunned the defending champions with two quick goals. Ghizlane Chebbak, the tournament’s top scorer, opened the scoring in the 12th minute, capitalizing on a defensive lapse. Sanaa Mssoudy doubled the lead in the 24th minute, sending the stadium into a frenzy and putting Morocco in the driver’s seat going into halftime.
The second half, however, belonged entirely to Nigeria and more specifically, to striker Esther Okoronkwo. The tide began to turn in the 63rd minute when a VAR review confirmed a handball in the Moroccan box. Okoronkwo calmly stepped up and converted the resulting penalty to pull one back for Nigeria, sparking belief and momentum.
With the scoreline at 2-1, the Super Falcons turned up the pressure. Okoronkwo once again proved decisive, providing a pinpoint assist to Florence Ijamilusi in the 71st minute, who slotted home the equaliser. Suddenly, Nigeria were level, and the momentum had completely shifted.
Morocco thought they had a lifeline in the 82nd minute when a penalty was awarded, but another VAR review ruled it out, much to the dismay of the home supporters. Just six minutes later, Nigeria completed their incredible comeback. Okoronkwo was again at the heart of the action, delivering her second assist of the night to Jennifer Echegini, who fired home from close range to seal a famous 3-2 victory.
With the win, Nigeria cemented their dominance in African women’s football, claiming their 10th WAFCON title out of 13 editions a truly remarkable feat. The triumph was not only a showcase of the team’s resilience but also a testament to their depth and experience on the continental stage.
While Morocco fell just short, they can hold their heads high after an impressive campaign. Ghizlane Chebbak finished as the tournament’s top scorer with five goals, showcasing her lethal touch in front of goal.
For Nigeria, Rasheedat Ajibade was named Best Player of the Tournament, a nod to her consistent brilliance throughout the competition. Chiamaka Nnadozie, the Super Falcons’ reliable last line of defense, was awarded Best Goalkeeper.
South Africa, the 2022 champions, received the Fair Play Award in recognition of their discipline and sportsmanship during the tournament.
Nigeria’s incredible comeback against Morocco in Rabat will go down as one of the greatest moments in WAFCON history. Against the odds and under intense pressure, the Super Falcons once again rose to the occasion driven by the brilliance of Esther Okoronkwo to prove why they remain the queens of African football.
