In a breathtaking finale at the Stade Olympique in Rabat, Nigeria’s Super Falcons pulled off a remarkable second-half comeback to defeat host nation Morocco 3-2 and claim their record-extending 10th TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title on Saturday night.
Trailing 2-0 at halftime, the Super Falcons delivered a masterclass in determination and composure, scoring three unanswered goals to stun the home crowd and reaffirm their reign as Africa’s most dominant women’s football team.
The match began with Morocco in dreamland. Just 12 minutes in, captain Ghizlane Chebbak ignited the packed stadium with a curling strike from outside the box that beat Nigerian goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie. The Atlas Lionesses doubled their lead in the 24th minute when a slick pass from Ibtissam Jraidi found Sanaâ Mssoudy, who finished clinically into the bottom corner.
With the hosts up 2-0, Nigeria seemed rattled heading into the break. However, a revitalized side emerged from the tunnel, driven by the halftime rallying of coach Justin Madugu.
The turnaround began in the 62nd minute when a VAR review spotted a handball by Moroccan defender Nouhaila Benzina. Esther Okoronkwo converted the resulting penalty to bring Nigeria back into the game at 2-1.
Momentum shifted completely just nine minutes later. Okoronkwo turned provider, threading a well-timed pass to Folashade Ijamilusi, who buried her shot into the bottom corner to level the match at 2-2.
As the clock ticked towards extra time, Nigeria struck the decisive blow. In the 88th minute, Okoronkwo was once again at the heart of the action, delivering a set-piece assist that Joe Echegini calmly tucked away to seal an epic 3-2 comeback victory.
Despite a late surge from Jorge Vilda’s Moroccan side, Nigeria’s defense stood strong in the dying minutes to secure a historic win.
The defeat was a bitter pill for Morocco, who were aiming to become only the third nation—after Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea—to win the WAFCON title. Nevertheless, the hosts earned widespread praise for their spirited campaign.
For the Super Falcons, this victory marked yet another chapter in their storied legacy. With 10 titles from 13 tournaments, Nigeria has once again demonstrated their resilience, experience, and unmatched pedigree on the African stage.
Their comeback in Rabat wasn’t just about goals—it was a powerful statement to a rising generation of challengers: the queens of African football are far from done.
