The Rasheedat Ajibade-led Nigerian team defeated the Morocco team by 3 goals to 2.

In the tension-filled match, Morocco scored two goals in the first half of the match.

The first goal by Morocco was scored in the 12^th minute by Ghizlane Chebbak while the second came in the 23^rd minute by Sanaâ Mssoudy.

In the second half, the Super Falcons came in with more determination, mounting so much pressure on Morocco.

The efforts paid off as the Falcons secured a penalty against their opponents.

Esther Okoronkwo scored the penalty in the 64^th minute.

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In the 71^st minute, Folashade Florence Ijamilusi scored the Super Falcons second goal while the third goal was scored in the 87^th minute by Jennifer Echegini.

With a 3 – 2 defeat, Nigeria became the winner of the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nation, WAFCON.

Nigeria’s Super Falcons on July 22 defeated South Africa 2-1 to seal a place in the final of the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, WAFCON, at the Stade Larbi Zaouli, Casablanca, Morocco.

It would be recalled that Captain, Rasheedat Ajibade, got Justine Madugu’s side off to a flying start with the opener in the 45th minute.

She converted a penalty into the bottom corner touching Banyana Banyana goalie, Andile Dlamini after a foul by South Africa’s Bambanani Mbane.

This came after incessant attacking pressure from the Super Falcons including saves from Dlamini.

The 2022 champions, however, came out strong in the second half hoping for an equalizer.

A foul by Osinachi Ohale inside the box led to another penalty which was converted by Linda Motlhalo in the hour mark to level things.

With the game heading towards extra time, a seeming cross by Michelle Alozie resulted into the winning goal in the additional minutes of the second half.

The win ensured that Nigeria played in their 10th WAFCON final.

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Nine-time champions Nigeria spent the better part of the noughties and the last decade riding roughshod over continental opposition, but the terrain-walk is no longer a cakewalk as teams like South Africa, Morocco and Zambia, especially in the last four years, have grown in strength, confidence and general organization.

South Africa are the Cup holders, turning the dream of Morocco’s Atlas Lionesses to ashes in the 2022 Final, after defeating the Super Falcons in their first match of the competition, and taking out the energetic Zambians in the semi finals.

Morocco edged the Super Falcons on penalties in the 2022 semi-final, condemning the nine-time winners to the bronze-medal match, after a 1-1 draw in regulation time.

Zambia’s Copper Queens, victimized 6-0 in a group phase match in Namibia in 2014 and 4-0 in another group phase match in Ghana in 2018 by the Super Falcons, bumped Nigeria in the bronze medal-match in Morocco three years ago.

The African women football realm has continued to admit more ambitious sides to the top table, with Senegal, Algeria and Mali not far behind. Although Ghana’s Black Queens have failed to live up to their promise of earlier decades (they were runners-up when Nigeria hosted the tournament’s first edition in 1998), they have now made it through to the quarter-finals this time and should not be discountenanced.

The encounter between Nigeria and Zambia, at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca on Friday, promises more than just fireworks. There could be lightning and thunder – the type that can happen when two ambitious squads clash and fight to their full capacity.

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Nigeria captain Rasheedat Ajibade and Saudi Arabia-based defender Ashleigh Plumptre were selected as part of the Best XI of the group stage, just as Zambia’s trio of Lushomo Mweemba, Barbra Banda and Rachael Kundananji. Others are Algeria’s goalkeeper Chloe N’gazi-Boumrar, South Africa’s Bambanani Mbane, Fikile Magama and Refiloe Jane, Senegal’s Nguenar Ndiaye and Morocco captain Ghizlane Chebbak.

Coach of Nigeria, Justine Madugu, said: “We have our strategies; we have watched them severally and we know what they can do. We’ll work on how to neutralize their strength, so we’re not too bothered by the individual players. We know how good they are, but we’re not bothered. We are getting ready for each game, and we’ll have an antidote on the matchday.”

His opposite number on the Zambia bench, Nora Häuptle, stated: “We are in a comfortable position with five rest days now. It’s a chance to recover, refresh and observe closely. Whoever we face, we will be ready. If you want to reach the Final and win this tournament, you need to beat everyone.”

The statements by the two coaches underscore the importance of this one game that is already being marked down as one of the defining moments of the Women Africa Cup of Nations, with both nations and their motivated stars ready to bring their ‘A’ game to the table.

Nigeria’s Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Said Ahmad, and the Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Hajia Hannatu Musa Musawa, have added their voices to the groundswell of support and motivation for the Super Falcons ahead of the big clash.

The Super Falcons will welcome back midfield ace Deborah Abiodun, suspended for the clash with the Algerians on Sunday, while the spirited Esther Okoronkwo could start for the first time in the tournament alongside the calm but efficient Jennifer Echegini.

There appears to be no easy road ahead again as the winner between Nigeria and Zambia will have to square up to the challenge of Cup holders South Africa or perhaps the exciting Senegalese ladies in Tuesday’s semi finals.

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Winners of the inaugural edition that their country hosted in 1998, the Super Falcons also took home the diadem in 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2016 and 2018, and look forward to the thirteenth edition with confidence but without being sardonic.

Home-boy Coach Justine Madugu has taken the option of the good-old-wine-and-fresh-fruits-from-the-vineyard selection approach, and is satisfied that he has a team that can hold its own right from the first match against Tunisia on Sunday.

“We are very focused on our realisable and achievable target of Mission X. The girls are ready and are showing real hunger for victory and team spirit is high. We are looking forward to our first match on Sunday against Tunisia,” Madugu said the Falcons strolled past West African rivals Ghana in their last pre-tournament friendly on Sunday.

Victory over Cameroon’s Indomitable Lionesses in Abeokuta and a scoreless draw with Portugal in earlier friendlies have buoyed the spirit and gait of the Super Falcons.

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Nigeria’s squad drips with talent, experience and purpose, with Africa’s best for the second year running, goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie the rock that most teams will find too difficult to crack.

Defender Osinachi Ohale has decades of experience and provides the spine for a rearguard that includes hardworking and efficient young ones like Ashleigh Plumptre, Tosin Demehin, Michelle Alozie, Sikiratu Isah, Miracle Usani and Shukurat Oladipo.

Captain Rasheedat Ajibade has traversed the gamut of the Nigeria women teams, and her sterling contributions make it appear like she has always been there.

“For us, effort is everything. We’ll demonstrate what we’re capable of and continue to build on our existing strengths. We have an incredible group of talented players. We’re all excited to be here. We know it won’t be easy but we’re committed to showing up as our best selves,” Ajibade said during a webinar organised by CAF last week.

That pool of ‘talented players’ also include fellow midfielders Deborah Abiodun and Jennifer Echegini, as well as the bustling Toni Payne and hard-as-nails Halimatu Ayinde and Christy Ucheibe.

Questions by some pundits over the inclusion of Francisca Ordega were quashed by her delightful outing against Portugal in a friendly in Lisbon on 23rd June, as she created excellent opportunities for fellow attackers and rocked the crossbar from 27 yards.

Her experience, smarts and energy, and those of Asisat Oshoala, will be worthwhile to spur the likes of Rinsola Babajide, Chinwendu Ihezuo, Esther Okoronkwo, Ifeoma Onumonu and Folashade Ijamilusi to mow down the opposition.

The Super Falcons will also be hugely motivated by a $1 million winner’s prize – the biggest-ever in the history of the competition.

The CAF also announced on Thursday that the runners-up will earn $500,000, with the third-placed and fourth-placed teams going home with $350,000 and $300,000 each.

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The defeat means Nigeria will continue the search for their first points of  the tournament as they regroup to face Japan on Wednesday.

The nine-time African champions, however deserve credit for holding out for 85 minutes against the world champions before conceding a lone goal that handed the Europeans all the three points in Nantes.

Spain dominated possession, expectedly, and only a masterclass defensive performance by the Falcons restricted them to the 1-0 win.

For some parts of the game, the Falcons looked dangerous and made efforts in front of goal when Esther Okoronkwo’s shot in the 23rd minute was pushed away by the goalkeeper when she latched on to a pass from Ajibade.

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Also in the 65^th minute when captain Rasheedat Ajibade lifted the ball a little too high when running into a backpass by Asisat Oshoala.

Oshoala could have made hay with 18 minutes left, but she went to pass when it appeared easier to go for the kill.

Earlier in the second half, Salma Paralluelo had the ball in the net as she bundled past Chiamaka Nnadozie from a corner kick, but she was ruled offside.

With nine minutes to go, Osinachi Ohale cleared from the line as Alexia Putellas, who had been thwarted several times by Nnadozie, struck from just outside the box.

Spain got the winner in the 85th minute, when the ubiquitous Putellas heaved the ball past Nnadozie straight from a free-kick on the left side of the Nigeria defence.

The defeat means the Falcons remain pointless in the tournament in Group C, and must achieve a win against Japan at the same venue on Wednesday to stand any chance of progressing to the quarter-finals.

Source: NAN

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Uchenna Kanu, with a first-half brace, and substitute Esther Okoronkwo, with a second-half brace, swept the nine-time African champions into a comfortable lead in the fixture.

The result earned the Super Falcons a place in the finals slated for Morocco in the summer of 2024.

Gift Monday rocked the bar from a 22-yard free-kick in the 4th minute before Kanu benefitted from a goalmouth scramble that followed a corner kick to slot past goalkeeper Jacinta Rodrigues.

Rodrigues did better two minutes later when she palmed a left-footed angled drive from captain Rasheedat Ajibade.

In the 14th minute, Kleydiana Borges came close with a shot that was charged down by Oluwatosin Demehin.

Toni Payne missed from close range to let off the Cape Verdeans, five minutes later.

However, Gift Monday made good from another goalmouth melee in the 25th minute, to make it two for the hosts at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium.

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Petite midfielder Deborah Abiodun, whose turns, swerves and sweet touches were a delight all evening, came close with a 25-yard volley on the half-hour mark.

But Kanu made good again just before the break, making no mistake from a pass from Toni Payne on a swift counter-attack launched by Ajibade.

In the second half, the Falcons again completely dominated, with Okoronkwo lifting the ball past Rodrigues in the 67th minute.

This was after she received a lovely cross from Ajibade by the right.

She then shot past the visiting goalkeeper from a Rofiat Imuran cross from the left with 13 minutes left.

Speaking after match coach, Justin Madugu, said the game was still work in progress.

He said the girls would always give their best for the country any time.

Madugu commended Abiodun for her superlative performance, adding that she needed to be encouraged.

“We thank God the game was won and lost. The game is still a work in progress. We are not going to relent.

“The girls did what was expected of them and they played according to the game plan.

“We were able to analyse the Cape Verdeans game but it doesn’t mean that we are not going to give our best during the return leg next Wednesday,” he said.

Also speaking, the Cape Verde coach, Silvenia Nedio, congratulated Nigeria for their victory.

She said Nigeria was a super power country in African football, and she was not surprised about the score line.

The coach was  optimistic that anything could happen during the return leg in Cape Verde.

“Everything can happen in seconds in Cape Verde and that we know.

“We have learnt a lot from this game and we’ll always give our best. We are doing everything possible to improve the women national team.

“We have nine players that played outside Cape Verde but most of our players play at home.

“But we’ll always give our best at all times. The captain, Vansenia da Luz, also corroborated the coach’s submission saying they will continue to learn and give their best,” he said.

Both teams will clash in the second leg in Praia, capital of Cape Verde on December 5.

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The match, played at the Leon Stadium, late Tuesday night, saw Esther Okoronkwo scoring from a close range in the 42nd minute.

Nigeria had lost her earlier two matches in the tournament to hosts Mexico and Columbia, both by a lone goal each.

The tournament, however, is a build up to the Women’s World Cup billed for July in Australia and New Zealand.

Source: NAN

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