Nigeria staged an unparalleled 2nd-half of comeback to defeat hosts Morocco 3-2 and hold their 10th TotalEnergies CAF Girls’s Africa Cup of International locations (WAFCON) crown on the Stade Olympique in Rabat on Saturday evening.
Trailing 2-0 at half of-time in front of a partisan Moroccan crowd, the Mammoth Falcons showed their pedigree and resilience, clawing their draw assist into the match with a tag of medical finishing and sheer resolution to cement their space as queens of African football.
Dreams from Esther Okoronkwo, Folashade Ijamilusi, and a unhurried winner by Joe Echegini overturned Morocco’s strong first-half of lead, keen the Atlas Lionesses who were hoping to clinch their first-ever continental title on home soil.
The final had the total ingredients of a classic: a number nation having a see to crown a golden expertise with history, and Africa’s most a hit women folk’s aspect involved to reaffirm their dominance.
Morocco bought off to a dream launch. With factual 12 minutes on the clock, captain Ghizlane Chebbak opened the scoring with a wonderful strike from outside the sphere, curling the ball low previous Nigerian goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie.
The home crowd erupted, sensing history within the making.
Issues bought even better for the Atlas Lionesses within the Twenty fourth minute when Sanaâ Mssoudy doubled Morocco’s lead.
A slick pass from Ibtissam Jraidi found Mssoudy in build, and the forward made no mistake with a restful end into the bottom magnificent nook.
Nigeria regarded tremulous and went into the rupture trailing by two targets, going by an uphill war. However coach Justin Madugu’s half of-time suppose sparked a attractive response from the Mammoth Falcons.
The comeback began factual after the hour imprint when a VAR review handed Nigeria a lifeline.
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A handball by Nouhaila Benzina resulted in a penalty, which turned into once coolly dispatched by Okoronkwo to make it 2-1.
From that moment, momentum swung Nigeria’s draw. Within the 71st minute, Okoronkwo turned into provider, slipping a orderly ball into the scramble of Ijamilusi, who drilled a left-footed effort into the bottom nook to raise Nigeria level.
With the match heading towards extra time, Nigeria found the winner.
A smartly-worked build-piece dispute seen Esther Okoronkwo over again involved, delivering a artful relief to Joe Echegini, who evenly slotted home within the 88th minute to seal a dramatic turnaround.
No topic unhurried tension and a flurry of Moroccan assaults, the Mammoth Falcons held firm by a demanding final few minutes of stoppage time.
It turned into once a heartbreaking dwell for Jorge Vilda’s Morocco aspect, who had impressed trusty by the tournament and were bidding to develop into most efficient the 2nd nation ever to hold the WAFCON trophy after Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea.
However the evening belonged to the Mammoth Falcons, whose expertise, depth and never-pronounce-die spirit propelled them to but every other African title — their 10th in 13 editions.
Nigeria’s triumph now not most efficient extended their unmatched legacy on the continent nonetheless moreover served as a convincing assertion that, even within the face of rising challengers, they proceed to be the crew to beat in African women folk’s football.
