Super Falcons Win 10th WAFCON Title After Stunning Comeback Against Morocco

Posted : 27 July 2025

Nigeria swept to a record-extending 10th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title on Saturday night after a stunning 3–2 comeback win over hosts Morocco in a drama-filled final at the Stade Olympique in Rabat.

Morocco’s Atlas Lionesses had the full-capacity crowd on their feet with an electric start, taking a two-goal lead within 24 minutes of the explosive encounter.

Captain Ghizlane Chebbak opened the scoring in the 13th minute with a well-placed shot from the edge of the box, capitalizing on an errant pass from Nigerian midfielder Halimatu Ayinde.

Eleven minutes later, Saana Mssoudy received a cross from the right, darted past Michelle Alozie, and smashed the ball past goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie to double Morocco’s lead.

Five minutes before the break, Rasheedat Ajibade squared a ball into the Moroccan box as the Super Falcons pressed forward, but the ball narrowly missed three teammates.

Trailing 2–0 at halftime, the Falcons—winners of nine out of the previous twelve WAFCON editions—launched a spirited second-half comeback.

The fightback began in the 64th minute when Esther Okoronkwo calmly converted a penalty kick to make it 2–1.

Seven minutes later, Okoronkwo once again powered through the Moroccan defense and found Folasade Ijamilusi, who finished clinically to level the score.

In the 78th minute, Morocco thought they had won a penalty after the ball struck Nigerian defender Tosin Demehin’s hand, but after a lengthy VAR review, Namibian referee Antsino Twanyanyukwa overturned the decision.

With momentum on their side, the Super Falcons surged forward, and substitute Jennifer Echegini sealed the comeback with a sublime finish in the 88th minute from an Esther Okoronkwo free-kick.

Captain Rasheedat Ajibade was named Player of the Tournament, while Chiamaka Nnadozie, Africa’s top goalkeeper for two consecutive years, was crowned Goalkeeper of the Tournament.

Victory earned Nigeria a $1 million prize and completed their “Mission X” campaign, which captivated fans across the world.

In poetic fashion, the Super Falcons defeated all three teams that had beaten them at the 2022 WAFCON, also held in Morocco:

Quarter-finals: Defeated Zambia 5–0 (avenging the 2022 third-place loss)
Semi-finals: Defeated South Africa’s Banyana Banyana (avenging a 2–1 group-stage defeat in 2022)
Final: Defeated Morocco (who had beaten Nigeria in the 2022 semi-finals on penalties)

Nigeria also maintained their perfect record of never losing a WAFCON final.

Super Falcons Win 10th WAFCON Title After Stunning Comeback Against Morocco

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