Sports
WAFCON Final: Super Falcons eye record 10th title against hosts Morocco
The Super Falcons of Nigeria will be gunning for a record-extending 10th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title when they square off against hosts Morocco in the final of the 2024 edition of the tournament on Saturday (today) at the Stade Olympique, Rabat.
The highly anticipated clash, scheduled to kick off at 9pm Nigerian time, will pit Africa’s most decorated women’s national team against a Moroccan side enjoying a meteoric rise in women’s football.
Having dubbed this campaign ‘Mission X,’ the nine-time champions are determined to reclaim their crown after missing out in 2022, when they were edged 5-4 on penalties by the same opponents in the semi-finals. That game, also played on Moroccan soil, ended 1-1 in regulation and extra time, with Nigeria reduced to nine players.
Despite a bumpy road to the final, including a dramatic 2-1 semi-final win over South Africa’s Banyana Banyana sealed by a 94th-minute winner, the Super Falcons have shown grit and experience throughout the tournament.
In contrast, Morocco’s route to the final was equally challenging. The Atlas Lionesses needed a penalty shootout to defeat Ghana’s Black Queens 4-2 after a 1-1 draw in 120 minutes of football.
The North Africans, who finished as runners-up on home soil in 2022 and made their FIFA Women’s World Cup debut a year later, are eyeing a maiden continental title and will count on home support to overcome Nigeria’s pedigree.
For the Falcons, Saturday’s encounter marks their 10th WAFCON final appearance. Nigeria have lifted the trophy in every final they’ve reached, only failing to win the title three times — in 2008, 2012, and 2022.
Coach Jorge Vilda’s squad will look to experienced stars to get the job done. Team captain Rasheedat Ajibade, a standout performer with three Woman of the Match awards in five matches, is expected to lead the charge. She will be supported by Esther Okoronkwo, the tournament’s top assist provider, and a sturdy defence anchored by veteran Osinachi Ohale.
Midfield general Halimatu Ayinde is expected to play a key role in shielding the defence and connecting play, while Nigeria’s disciplined backline — which has conceded just once all tournament — is tipped to give Morocco’s attack a tough time.
However, the hosts boast attacking threats of their own in Ghizlane Chebbak, the current top scorer with four goals, and Yasmin Mrabet, who, alongside Chebbak, has accounted for seven of Morocco’s 11 goals in the tournament.
Their biggest worry, however, remains a leaky defence — the Lionesses have conceded in every match so far.
Historically, Nigeria had the upper hand in past encounters, thrashing Morocco 8-0 and 6-0 in 1998 and 2000, respectively. But since 2022, the hosts have grown in confidence and stature, setting up what promises to be a thrilling final.
With the weight of history on their side, Nigeria will be eager to cement their dominance in African women’s football, while Morocco will be desperate to carve their name into the continent’s football folklore with a first-ever WAFCON crown.
Whichever way it goes, fans can expect a fiercely contested final that will be remembered for years to come.
Former Arsenal star, Jack Wilshere, has sent a message to the Gunners ahead of their UEFA Champions League final with Paris Saint-Germain.
Arsenal will take on the French Ligue 1 giants in the Champions League final this year in Budapest on Saturday evening.
Mikel Arteta’s side had lost 3-1 on aggregate against PSG in the Champions League semi-final stage last year.
Speaking on TNT Sports (via GOAL), Wilshere remembered Arsenal about their last year’s defeat to PSG and urged them to use it as a revenge to get a win against Luis Enrique’s side when both sides meet again this weekend.
“Now that the Premier League is over the line, I know that the Premier League was the one. I know that Mikel wanted that. I know that the boys wanted that,” Wilshere said.
“Now you have to go through some tough times and learn from it. I hope that the Champions League semi-final [PSG 3-1 Arsenal] last year hurt them enough that they can go on and use that [against PSG].
“I think when you are on the pitch, and you are playing against your direct opponent, you learn so much about them. And to face them next year, they will be better for that.”
Captain of the Super Falcons, Rasheedat Ajibade, has said the team is determined to become the best women’s football team in the world.
Ajibade spoke yesterday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, during a reception hosted by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in honour of the Falcons following their victory at the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco.
The Nigerian ladies clinched their 10th continental title after a hard-fought campaign, further cementing their status as Africa’s most successful women’s team.
Ajibade, in an emotional speech, said the team’s goal goes beyond continental glory.
“We’re not content to rest on our laurels. Our vision is bold. We want to become the best women’s football team in the world,” the Atletico Madrid star said.
She described herself as “a proud daughter of Nigeria” and paid tribute to the dreams of young girls across the country who look up to the team.
“This victory is not just a trophy. It is a testament to the unyielding spirit of Nigeria. It is a celebration of every young girl in our villages, towns, and cities who dares to dream,” she said.
Ajibade, who spoke on behalf of the team, coaches, and technical crew, thanked the Federal Government for its support and appealed for continued investment in women’s football.
President Tinubu, in his address, conferred national honours of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) on all 24 players and the 11-member technical crew.
The President also approved the allocation of three-bedroom apartments to each team member under the Renewed Hope Housing Scheme and a cash reward of the naira equivalent of $100,000 for each player, while members of the technical team received $50,000 each.
He praised the Falcons for lifting the nation’s spirit and inspiring unity through their performance.
“You have inspired millions, especially young girls who now see proof that their dreams are valid and achievable,” Tinubu said.
“You have inspired me too. You represent the hope of today, tomorrow, and the day after. You ignited that hope. And we will continue to encourage you and the next generation.”
The President said the Falcons’ WAFCON victory was not just a sporting feat but a symbol of the courage, discipline and resilience that define Nigerians.
“Your victory represents more than a sporting accomplishment. It is a triumph of courage, determination, discipline, and consistency,” he said.
The reception was attended by top government officials, sports administrators, and stakeholders in the football community.
A member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aderemi Oseni, has congratulated the Super Falcons on their historic 3-2 comeback victory over hosts Morocco in the final of the 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations on Saturday.
The Falcons, who came from two goals down to seal the win in Rabat, clinched their 10th WAFCON title—further cementing their status as the most successful team in the history of the competition. Reacting to the victory, Oseni described the performance as “a warrior’s triumph that speaks volumes about the indomitable Nigerian spirit.”
In a statement issued by his media aide, Idowu Ayodele in Ibadan, the lawmaker representing Ibarapa East/Ido Federal Constituency said the team’s resilience should serve as a symbol of hope and unity for the entire nation. “They refused to surrender. That comeback from two goals down defines who we are as Nigerians—strong, focused, and unstoppable when united,” he said.
The Falcons had gone behind in the 13th minute when Morocco’s Ghizlane Chebbak capitalised on a loose ball to fire past goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie. The hosts doubled their lead through Sanaâ Mssoudy before halftime, putting Nigeria on the back foot before the break.
However, second-half goals from Esther Okoronkwo, Folashade Ijamilusi, and Jennifer Echegini turned the game on its head, securing victory for Coach Justin Madugu’s side and avenging their 2024 semi-final loss to the North Africans. Oseni also hailed Madugu’s tactical brilliance, describing him as “the architect of a new chapter in women’s football in Nigeria.”
The lawmaker who also chairs the House Committee on Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) joined other national figures, including President Bola Tinubu and First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, in celebrating the Falcons. The President had earlier taken to his verified social media accounts to praise the team’s performance, declaring, “Mission X: Complete!” while Sanwo-Olu, Governor of Lagos, described it as a flawless display of Nigerian spirit.
Oseni urged the Falcons not to rest on their laurels but to build on the momentum ahead of their title defence and the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup. “This is just the beginning. You have inspired millions of girls across the continent. Keep flying the flag and keep making Nigeria proud,” he added.
He also called on sports authorities and private stakeholders to invest more in women’s football, noting that the team’s success was proof of the untapped potential in the sector. “We have global stars in the making. Now is the time to give them the platform and support they truly deserve,” the lawmaker submitted.
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