Nigeria vs Morocco: How Super Falcons Fought Back to Win WAFCON Final

Nigeria produced a sensational second-half comeback to beat hosts Morocco 3-2 and clinch a record-extending 10th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title on Saturday night.

Trailing 2-0 at halftime, Super Falcons stormed back with three unanswered goals to reclaim the crown they last held in 2018.

The Atlas Lionesses had looked destined for a maiden continental crown after goals from Ghizlane Chebbak and Sanaa Mssoudy gave them a comfortable first-half lead.

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Chebbak curled in a superb opener in the 13th minute after Halimatu Ayinde’s error as Mssoudy doubled the advantage just past the half-hour mark with a low, scuffed shot across the Nigerian goal.

But Nigeria responded with Esther Okoronkwo igniting a turnaround from the penalty spot in the 64th minute after Nouhaila Benzina handled Folamide Ijamilusi’s cross inside the box.

Just seven minutes later, Okoronkwo was the architect again as she burst into the Moroccan box before squaring for Ijamilusi to level the match at 2-2.

A key turning point came in the 79th minute when Morocco were awarded a penalty after a Blessing Demehin handball.

But following a lengthy VAR review, Namibian referee Antsino Twanyanyukwa overturned her initial decision, sparing Nigeria from falling behind again.

The game looked seemingly destined for extra time, but Okoronkwo delivered once more, this time with a pinpoint free-kick. Substitute Jennifer Echegini met it perfectly, getting ahead of Benzina to slot home the winning goal with just two minutes left on the clock.

Despite massive investment and high expectations, Morocco were left heartbroken again.

Having lost the 2022 final to South Africa, hopes were high this time under the guidance of 2023 World Cup-winning coach Jorge Vilda. The Spaniard was hired to push the Atlas Lionesses over the line after he departed from the Spanish national team.

The Atlas Lionesses had to come from behind in three different matches and edged Ghana on penalties in the semifinals. The pressure of delivering in front of a home crowd may have taken its toll, as the team ran out of steam against a determined Nigerian side.

Chebbak, who was aiming to emulate her father Larbi—a 1976 AFCON winner—finished as the tournament’s top scorer with five goals. But at 35, this might have been her final shot at lifting the continental trophy on home soil.

Nigeria’s latest WAFCON success adds to victories over host nations South Africa (2000) and Cameroon (2016), reaffirming their status as the queens of African football.