Second-half magic grants Nigeria WAFCON title
.jpg)
.jpg)
Reading Time: 2min | Sun. 27.07.25. | 08:07
The 2024 WAFCON title was Nigeria's 10th in 13 editions of the tournament, where they have at least reached the semi-final in every edition.
Nigeria produced a remarkable comeback in the second half to win the 2024 CAF Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) against hosts Morocco.
The curtains of the 2024 WAFCON were drawn last night, 26 July, with an entertaining five-goal thriller that in the end saw Morocco suffer heartbreak at home.
Despite going 2-0 down in the first half, Nigeria regained their class with a dominant second-half performance to claim a 3-2 victory in the final.
Going into the match, questions had been raised about Morocco's ability to keep clean sheets, especially against a lethal Nigerian attack, and those concerns folded in front of the fully packed 21,000-seater Stade Olympique de Rabat.
Morocco seemed to have settled faster and were rewarded in the 13th minute when Ghizlane Chebbak broke the deadlock to send the stadium into a frenzy.
The hosts were back at it 11 minutes later through Sanaa Mssoudy, who doubled the lead in a period where she was causing all sorts of problems for Nigerian star Michelle Alozie.
The two goals sent shockwaves through the Nigerian team, who pulled up their socks thereafter but not enough to find a goal. Morocco therefore took a two-goal cushion into halftime.
Nigerian coach Justin Madugu utilized the halftime break to re-strategize and recharge his troops, who were a much better side in the second half going for every tackle, fighting for every ball, and literally running everywhere on the pitch.
Esther Okoronkwo pulled one back for the African giants in the 64th minute before she turned provider seven minutes later for Folashade Ijamilusi, who leveled the score and silenced the red side of the Rabat Stadium.
Rejuvenated by the two goals, Nigeria got their feet on the pedal and eventually found their reward late in the 88th minute when second-half substitute Jennifer Echegini, who plies her trade with PSG Women, scored the winner.
The 2024 WAFCON title was Nigeria's 10th in 13 editions of the tournament, where they have at least reached the semi-final in every edition.
