Trailing 2–0 at halftime, the Super Falcons mounted an incredible second-half comeback to claim the WAFCON title.

By Tuka Letura 

Nigeria are champions of the 2024 African Women’s Cup of Nations (WAFCON), clinching their 10th title in what will go down as one of the most dramatic finals in the tournament’s history.

Trailing 2–0 at half-time, the Super Falcons mounted an incredible second-half comeback. Morocco had taken the lead just 12 minutes in through a penalty converted by Ghizlane Chebbak, before Sanaâ Mssoudy added a second 12 minutes later to put the hosts in control.

But Nigeria responded with resilience and brilliance after the break. Goals from Ijeoma Esther Okoronkwo and Folashade Ijamilusi brought the Super Falcons level, with the team converting a penalty and surviving a penalty scare of their own. Then, just minutes before stoppage time, Jennifer Onyinyechi Echegini struck the decisive winner, sealing a remarkable 3–2 victory.

Chiamaka Nnadozie, the Super Falcons’ brilliant shot-stopper and Brighton & Hove Albion’s newest signing from Paris FC, was named Goalkeeper of the Tournament. Meanwhile, team captain, Rasheedat Ajibade, whose influence was felt throughout the tournament, deservedly claimed the Player of the Tournament award. Morocco captain, Ghizlane Chebbak, picked up the Golden Boot, while South Africa were honoured with the Fair Play Award; fitting recognition of their discipline and sportsmanship throughout the tournament.

With this triumph, the Super Falcons have fulfilled the expectations they carried into the tournament, completing what was dubbed “Mission X” by claiming their 10th WAFCON title. In doing so, they have now won all 10 finals they’ve appeared in.

The post Nigeria’s Super Falcons Crowned WAFCON 2024 Champions After Historic Comeback first appeared on Afrocritik.

WAFCON 2024 hosts Morocco powered through a penalty shootout to make it into their second consecutive final match. Anissa Lahmari scored the decisive penalty kick as the Atlas Lionesses squeezed past Ghana. All four penalty takers for Morocco scored, while the Black Queens missed their last two penalties after scoring the first two.

Ghana took the lead during regulation, through Stella Nyamekye’s strike halfway through the first half. Sakina Ouzraoui pulled Morocco level shortly into the second half, setting up a tense atmosphere as the match went all the way through extra time. The Black Queens won their quarterfinal match against Algeria on penalties, but they couldn’t repeat the same feat against Morocco, and will now attempt to earn a third-place finish on Friday versus South Africa.

Morocco entered this year’s WAFCON as one of the strongest contenders, as the Atlas Lionesses have emerged as a growing force in African women’s football. They cruised past Mali in the quarterfinals, winning 3-1 and conceding only a late consolation goal.

Morocco boasts two of the highest goalscorers in the tournament so far, including last WAFCON’s Player of the Tournament Ghizlane Chebbak, who scored four goals in the group stage but is yet to find the back of the net in the knockout phase. Forward Ibitsam Jraïdi scored twice against Mali and was among the penalty scorers in the semifinal match. There will be no lack of firepower on Saturday, as the hosts will look to win their first WAFCON title against record holders Nigeria.

A late, chaotic goal was the definitive moment as Nigeria’s Super Falcons edged their way past South Africa to the final. Michelle Alozie’s long ball forward from close to the halfway line flew by two of her chasing teammates and crawled past Banyana Banyana’s onrushing goalkeeper, just over two minutes before the final whistle for regulation time was due to be blown.

Nigeria edged the defending champions out 2-1. Super Falcons’ captain Rasheedat Ajibade opened the scoring from the penalty spot at the end of the first half; however, Linda Motlhalo leveled things up on the hour mark. Alozie’s auspicious strike closed things, leaving South Africa to now compete in Friday's third-place match.

The Super Falcons will be playing for a tenth WAFCON title and a twelfth overall continental title on Saturday. The team has had a remarkable run to the final, with Motlhalo’s strike being the only goal it has conceded all tournament.

Over the weekend, they trounced the Zambia women’s team 5-0, a surprise result considering it was expected to be a tight affair. Instead, Nigeria impressively shut off Zambia’s usually prolific forward pair of Barbra Banda and Racheal Kundananji, on their way to a victory that symbolizes their dominance throughout the tournament.

Through the group stage and the knockout phase, Nigeria has demonstrated that they have the firepower and grit to win, either by overwhelming opponents or grinding out difficult wins, which are strong signs that they’ll be prepared to win it all on Sunday.

The winners of WAFCON 2024 will go home with an all-new trophy and a prize of $1 million. Second- and third-place teams will receive $500,000 and $300,000, respectively.

This story was originally posted July 22 at 3:37 p.m. and has been updated.

July 23, 10:53 a.m. Updated to include semifinal results and finals updates.

The stakes have been raised at the ongoing Women’s African Cup of Nations (WAFCON), as the competition enters its knockout stages this weekend. Four of the initial twelve teams have been eliminated, following a competitive round of matches in the group stage that produced an average of two-and-a-half goals per match.

Only one of the eight teams in the quarterfinals has never made it to this stage of the tournament: Algeria put up a resolute fight to make it past the group stage for the first time ever, winning Botswana by a lone goal in its only win so far, while forcing goalless draws in the other two matches. Six of the other seven teams have advanced to the final four of the competition, with Senegal hoping to move at least one step from their last WAFCON outing.

Below are brief primers for all four quarterfinal matches.

Nigeria vs Zambia (July 18, 6 PM GMT)

A rematch of last edition’s third-place match, the quarterfinal between Nigeria and Zambia will be a battle of wills. Nigeria’s Super Falcons are one of two teams that haven’t conceded a goal at WAFCON 2024, while the Copper Queens boast two of the most prolific strikers in African women’s football, Barbra Banda and Racheal Kundananji – both have scored three goals each already.

Nigeria qualified at the top of its group, as expected, and will aim to leverage its defensive solidity and cohesion to get into the final four. Zambia came second in Group A after scoring one goal less than hosts Morocco. Still, they’ve already distinguished themselves as top-tier contenders and will be keen on beating out an opponent they edged out back in 2022.

Morocco vs Mali (July 18, 9 PM GMT)

Hosts Morocco played through the group stage with a mix of poise, force, and discipline, earning the top spot in its group. The Atlas Lionesses are led by joint top scorer Ghizlane Chebbak, who has already scored four goals, one more than her total tally at the last WAFCON, where she was joint top scorer and voted the competition’s best player. Chebbak, like her team, has only improved in the years since, and Morocco will be the favorites to advance.

However, Mali will be looking to cause an upset, following a disappointing end to its group stage run. The female eagles were overrun 4-0 by South Africa, a result that dropped the Female Eagles to third in their group. In their first two matches, though, they showed toughness, earning a lone goal win against Tanzania and coming back to secure a 1-1 draw against Ghana. Facing the hosts and perhaps tournament favorites will be an uphill battle; expect Mali not to back down from the challenge.

Algeria vs Ghana (July 19, 6 PM GMT)

Although they only scored one goal in all three group stage matches, Algeria’s Fennecs have made scoring against them as hard as a camel passing through the eye of a needle. Meanwhile, the Black Queens of Ghana finally found the scoring punch in their final group stage game, putting four goals past Tanzania.

The contrasts between the two sides could play a key role, also taking into account their incredibly differing histories: this is Algeria’s quarterfinals debut, while the Black Queens have been WAFCON runners-up on three different occasions but haven’t reached the semifinals since 2016. One country will be looking to fight through novelty, while the other will want to reassert its slipping mettle as a force in African women’s football.

South Africa vs Senegal (July 19, 9 PM GMT)

Defending champions South Africa were on the verge of a flawless group stage run, having won two matches and drawn the other. All seven goals were scored by seven different players, encapsulating the collective attacking threat of Bayana Banyana. However, their defense will have to account for Nguenar Ndiaye, the Senegalese striker who has already scored four goals at WAFCON 2024. For the Teranga Lionesses to pull off a great upset, Ndiaye will most likely need to be at her best against a defense that has conceded one goal, while Senegal’s defense must keep a muzzle on the multitude of weapons South Africa has in its ranks.

A year after it was initially scheduled to take place, the 15th edition of the Women's African Cup of Nations (WAFCON) will be kicking off in Morocco this weekend. Over the course of three weeks, twelve teams will vie for supremacy in what is expected to be a keenly contested and entertaining competition.

Better financial rewards and new silverware

This year's edition also comes with a handful of notable improvements that show an increasing commitment to elevating women's football on the continent by the Confederation of African Football (CAF). Before the 2022 edition, CAF announced a 150 percent increase in the prize fund as an investment in the advancement of African women's football. This year's WAFCON also sees a substantial increase in the prize fund, a 45 percent raise that puts the total amount at nearly $3.5 million.

The winning prize has been increased by 100 percent; this year's winning team will walk away with $1 million, while the runners-up and third-place teams will receive $500,000 and $350,000, respectively. All participating teams have been allotted amounts from the prize fund, the least amount being $125,000 to the three teams that place fourth after the group stage.

Earlier this week, CAF unveiled a stunning new WAFCON trophy. With a design rooted in symbolism and purpose, the new trophy features stunning details like identical petals spiraling upwards to form a blooming flower, which represents each participating team and the growth of African women's football through the vibrant strength of its athletes. The trophy also features a golden football-patterned sphere on top, adorned with the map of Africa, and a silver and matte gold body, with a base crafted with white marble.

"When I started, we played to exist. Today, young people play to win," former South African women's football team captain, Amanda Dlamini, said. "This trophy is the symbol of this transition. The dream continues, but it is now within reach."

Morocco returns as host

In recent years, Morocco has emerged as a powerhouse in African football, on and off the pitch. This will be the second consecutive time Morocco will be hosting WAFCON, and it is also scheduled to host the next edition. That's in addition to hosting the men's AFCON in December and co-hosting the 2030 World Cup with Spain and Portugal.

At the 2022 WAFCON, over 60,000 people attended the final match between the host and eventual champions, South Africa, at the Stade Moulay Abdellah in Rabat. Those crowd levels will be impossible to replicate this time around, as games will be played on smaller-capacity pitches in Rabat and Casablanca. All three big stadiums used last time are being renovated ahead of the men's AFCON.

Six stadiums across five Moroccan cities will host matches this year, with Mohammedia, Oujda, and Berkane joining Rabat and Casablanca as host cities. Despite the uncertainties surrounding the schedule of this WAFCON edition, postponed due to Nigeria and Zambia's participation at the summer Olympics in Paris last year, Morocco's readiness mirrors its commitment to investing in the growth of its women's football structure, and the results are apparent.

A strong cast of contenders

Before reaching the final of the last WAFCON, Morocco hadn't participated in the competition since 2000, and it had never advanced past the group stage. If last time out was a surprise, the Atlas Lionesses are firmly among the top contenders heading into this edition.

Although there's been a coaching change, with Jorge Vilda, who led Spain to the 2023 World Cup, now at the helm, there's continuity in the Moroccan side. Led by mercurial captain Ghizlane Chebbak, joint top scorer at WAFCON 2022, Morocco's squad primarily consists of players who ply their club trades locally. This will give them an edge, chemistry-wise, and the added impetus of completing unfinished business will no doubt play a role in the team's performance.

Meanwhile, South Africa will be looking to defend its title as champions. Banyana Banyana finally became champions after coming in as runners-up five times, and they will have to defend their title without a key player. Former African Women's Player of the Year winner Thembi Kgatlana will be missing out on the competition due to undisclosed personal reasons.

Kgatlana also missed much of South Africa's triumphant outing in 2022 due to a ruptured achilles sustained in the group, but she's been a mainstay in this golden generation. The majority of the South African squad are returnees from the last WAFCON winning team, including prolific goalscorer Hildah Magaia and longtime talisman Jermaine Seopoesenwe.

As far as contenders, it's customary to include Nigeria's Super Falcons, the record 11-time champions. Last time out, Nigeria lost to the hosts in the semi-finals via penalty shootouts, marking the first time in a decade that the West African country's female team did not leave the competition with the trophy. The Super Falcons will be leaning on experience, with a side that includes 6-time African Women's Player of the Year winner Asisat Oshoala, WAFCON 2022 joint top scorer Rasheedat Ajibade, 4-time WAFCON winner Francisca Ordega, and other members of the team that took 2023 Women's World Cup finalist, England, to penalty shootouts in their second-round matchup.

The last WAFCON also marked the second time Nigeria had participated in the competition and left without a medal. In 2022, they were defeated in the third-place match by Zambia, a rising team in African women's football. This time around, the Copper Queens will be getting a much-needed boost, as phenomenal striker Barbra Banda will be joining the team, hoping to win it all in Morocco.

The reigning African Women's Player of the Year was controversially omitted from the Zambian squad in 2022, due to stringent testosterone testing that ruled her out. Banda, who refused to undergo hormone suppression treatment, has since played in the World Cup and, last summer, became the first woman to score three hat-tricks at the Olympics.

Banda will be looking to finally open her WAFCON account as a goalscorer. On her radar will be former Nigerian striker Perpetua Nkwocha's record of 11 goals scored in a single edition of the tournament; if there's any player who can get near or probably surpass that record, it's Banda. More importantly, the Copper Queens' captain will be leading Zambia alongside strike partner Racheal Kundananji, to its first football continental title.

"I feel like we are coming back victorious. I believe that because Zambia is a special team," Kundananji said recently. "We have broken so many records in this generation - I feel like it's a chosen generation for Zambia's women's national team. We are ready to go there and shine free."