Nigeria Seal 10th Wafcon As Comeback Stuns Morocco

Nigeria produced a sensational second-half comeback to hit hosts Morocco 3-2 and seal a record-extending 10th Women's Africa Cup of Nations title.

The Atlas Lionesses led 2-0 astatine nan break successful Rabat done Ghizlane Chebbak's good curling effort and a scuffed changeable from Sanaa Mssoudy.

But Esther Okoronkwo inspired nan West Africans aft nan break, pulling a extremity backmost from nan punishment spot successful nan 64th infinitesimal aft Nouhaila Benzina handled Folamide Ijamilusi's cross.

Okoronko burst into nan Morocco container and squared for Ijamilusi to equalise midway done nan half, past teed up substitute Jennifer Echegini to people an 88th-minute winner.

The 21,000-capacity Olympic Stadium was stunned into soundlessness arsenic nan Super Falcons players collapsed to nan turf successful celebrations astatine nan last whistle aft producing a seemingly improbable revival that will unrecorded agelong successful nan memory.

Nigeria billed their run arsenic Mission X and person achieved their target, reclaiming nan title they past won successful 2018 and preserving their 100% grounds successful Wafcon finals.

Morocco, meanwhile, had hired 2023 Women's World Cup-winning coach Jorge Vilda aft he parted institution pinch Spain successful a bid to onshore their first continental crown, but person now mislaid back-to-back Wafcon finals.

The Super Falcons prime up $1m successful prize money - which has been doubled since nan past version - and go nan first broadside to assistance nan new-look Wafcon trophy.

However, nan stadium had mostly emptied retired by nan clip Fifa president Gianni Infantino and Confederation of African Football counterpart Patrice Motsepe took to nan shape for nan presentation.

The 2024 version of nan tourney had been delayed because of scheduling issues past year, which included nan information of nan West Africans and Zambia astatine nan Paris 2024 Olympics.

Nigeria had not been awkward successful expressing their intentions of winning their 10th Wafcon, pinch players consistently asked astir that target successful media engagements.

The Super Falcons person surely backed up their off-field talk successful their performances successful Morocco this period arsenic coach Justin Madugu recovered nan correct blend successful nan knockout phase.

Yet nan top-ranked broadside successful Africa made a mediocre commencement and Nigeria were incapable to lucifer Morocco's level successful nan first half.

The North Africans went up successful nan 13th infinitesimal erstwhile Halimatu Ayinde gave nan shot to Chebbak, who sent a good changeable conscionable wrong nan left-hand upright, and doubled their lead 11 minutes later erstwhile Mssoudy changeable crossed goal.

Okoronkwo was composure personified aft nan involution of VAR to make it 2-1 from nan spot, and past kept her caput erstwhile she burst done nan Morocco defence to control, region and put nan shot connected a sheet for Ijamilusi.

Another large infinitesimal came erstwhile Morocco were awarded a punishment successful nan 79th infinitesimal erstwhile Imane Saoud helped a transverse onto nan manus of Blessing Demehin, who was hardly 2 yards away.

Chebbak had nan shot connected nan spot erstwhile Namibian referee Antsino Twanyanyukwa was called to nan VAR surface and overturned her determination almost 4 minutes later.

And nan comeback was completed erstwhile Okoronkwo provided a pin-point free-kick transportation and Echegini sewage up of centre-back Benzina to expanse location from six yards out.

The West Africans person now beaten a 3rd big federation successful a Wafcon last pursuing successes complete South Africa and Cameroon successful 2000 and 2016 respectively.

Morocco has pumped immense sums of money into some men's and women's shot successful caller years, pinch nan patient backing of King Mohammed VI, but conclusion intends nan hold for silverware to show for its outlay continues.

The Atlas Lionesses were beaten by South Africa successful nan last of nan 2022 edition, and brought successful Vilda pursuing his exit from Spain successful nan aftermath of an incident astatine nan Women's World Cup final, erstwhile then-federation president Luis Rubiales kissed subordinate Jenni Hermoso without her consent.

The 44-year-old has added elements to Morocco's play, but their way to this year's last saw them forced to travel from down successful 3 games while besides needing penalties to flooded Ghana successful nan past four.

Yet nan North Africans will now look to rebuild earlier hosting nan 2026 version of Wafcon, which is expected to beryllium held successful March adjacent year.

Chebbak had been looking to emulate her precocious begetter Larbi, an Africa Cup of Nations victor pinch Morocco successful 1976, but will person to console herself pinch nan aureate footwear aft ending pinch 5 goals.

However, she will beryllium 36 by nan clip nan adjacent tourney comes around, and her chances of creating a unsocial portion of family history look to beryllium fading.