Nigeria's Super Falcons have once again asserted their dominance in African women's football by clinching their record-extending 10th Women's African Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title after a breathtaking comeback against host nation Morocco on Saturday night in Rabat.
In what will go down as one of the most dramatic finals in the tournament's history, the Nigerian team found themselves trailing by two goals in the first half before mounting an extraordinary second-half resurgence to secure a 3-2 victory.
The hosts started the match with tremendous energy, buoyed by passionate home support. Morocco's Ghizlane Chebbak opened the scoring, giving the Atlas Lionesses an early advantage. Their momentum continued as Sanaa Mssoudy doubled their lead before halftime, leaving Nigeria with a mountain to climb.
However, the Super Falcons emerged from the break transformed. The comeback began when Nigeria was awarded a penalty, which Esther Okoronkwo confidently converted to reduce the deficit. Okoronkwo then turned provider, setting up Folashade Ijamilusi who equalized with a clinical finish to silence the home crowd.
With momentum firmly on their side, Nigeria completed their remarkable turnaround when Jennifer Echegini rose highest to meet a well-delivered free-kick, heading home what proved to be the championship-winning goal in the closing stages of the match.
This victory further cements Nigeria's status as the undisputed queens of African women's football, extending their record to an impressive 10 WAFCON titles. The triumph also highlights the team's resilience and championship mentality, qualities that have made them a formidable force on the continent for decades.
For Morocco, despite the heartbreaking defeat, their performance throughout the tournament and in the final showcases the significant progress made in women's football in the North African nation.
The victory marks another glorious chapter in the storied history of Nigerian women's football, reinforcing their position as Africa's premier team in the women's game.
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