Under the electrifying lights of Stade Moulay Abdellah, with 45,000 voices echoing through the Moroccan night, the Super Falcons of Nigeria rewrote the script on what it means to be champions. Down 2–0. Rattled. Written off by a jubilant home crowd. But then came the twist no one saw coming.
Nigeria stormed back to snatch a dramatic 3–2 victory from the jaws of defeat, securing their record-breaking 10th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title, the most by any team in tournament history.
Morocco struck first in the opening half, as captain Ghizlane Chebbak curled home a beauty in the 13th minute before winger Sanaa Mssoudy doubled the lead in the 24th. The Atlas Lionesses looked destined to lift their first-ever continental crown, propelled by a blistering start and deafening crowd support.
But Nigeria, embodying their rallying cry of “Mission X,” staged a second-half comeback for the ages. Esther Okoronkwo sparked the turnaround with a calmly converted penalty after VAR confirmed a Moroccan handball. Moments later, she turned provider, threading a perfect pass to Folashade Ijamilusi, who netted the equalizer in the 71st minute.
Just when extra time seemed inevitable, substitute Jennifer Echegini struck gold in the 88th minute, redirecting Okoronkwo’s pinpoint free-kick past the Moroccan keeper. The Nigerian bench erupted; the stadium fell silent. The Super Falcons had done it.
Coach Justin Madugu (Nigeria):
“We knew the stakes and the intensity of the Moroccan crowd. But our players have experience in major finals and know how to handle these moments. We assessed the opposition and executed our plan. This is a victory for every Nigerian.”
Rasheedat Ajibade (Player of the Tournament):
“It’s emotional. A very emotional thing for me. It’s not easy to lead this incredible team to the final of WAFCON. The last time we won was 2018, and we had a collective goal to get here again. We gave it everything, and this title means the world to us.”
Esther Okoronkwo (Player of the Match):
“We’re born with the zeal to fight and win every game. Tonight was about heart, belief, and never giving up. I’m proud of how we came back and proud to be part of this team.”
With this triumph, Nigeria has now won 10 of the 13 WAFCON editions, a staggering feat that underlines their enduring dominance in African women’s football.
This final wasn’t just a comeback, it was a coronation. Nigeria’s “Mission X” is complete, and the Super Falcons remain the undisputed queens of African football.
