Nigeria’s Super Falcons staged an extraordinary second-half comeback to defeat hosts Morocco 3-2 and lift their tenth TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) crown at the Stade Olympique in Rabat. Morocco was up 2-0 until Esther Okoronkwo led Nigeria back with a penalty and two assists in the final half hour. Ghizlane Chebbak curled a shot from outside the box for a 13th-minute lead and 11 minutes later Sanaâ Mssoudy added a second goal. But Okoronkwo pulled one back for Nigeria in the 64th when she converted a penalty after a video review spotted a handball in the area by Nouhaila Benzina. Okoronkwo soon turned assist-maker to set up Folashade Ijamilusi to level it in the 71st. Substitute Joe Echegini scored the winner in the 88th with a right-footed shot from the centre of the area after a free kick by Okoronkwo. Nigeria is the most successful nation in the history of the tournament since it became full-scale in 1998, winning nine of the 12 editions so far and making it to at least the semi-final in every tournament they have played.
Hosts Morocco struck late to earn themselves a 2-2 draw against Zambia In an open and entertaining first game of WAFCON 2024. Both sides, viewed as among the favourites to lift the new WAFCON trophy, offered up a mouth-watering start to the tournament. The draw left Group A wide open, with the hosts next game coming against DR Congo in Rabat the same day on which Zambia would face Senegal in Mohammedia. On 6 July, Senegal produced a first-half demolition of DR Congo to register a comfortable 4-0 win and moved top of Group A. Forwards Mama Diop and Ngeunar Ndiaye both scored two goals before half-time as the powerful Lionesses of Teranga frontline ripped into a fragile and disorganised rearguard. Following the 2-2 draw between Morocco and Zambia in opening fixture, Senegal had the chance to book a place in the quarter-finals against the Zambians back in Mohammedia.
Nigeria kicked off their quest for a record-extending tenth WAFCON title with a confident 3-0 victory over Tunisia in Casablanca. Former Barcelona forward Asisat Oshoala opened the scoring for the Super Falcons in the fourth minute when the 30-year-old pounced on a low inswinging free-kick delivered by Rinsola Babajide from the left flank and bundled the ball home amid a scramble in the Tunisian box. Babajide, who previously featured for England at youth level before switching allegiance to Nigeria in 2023, doubled the lead in the first minute of first-half stoppage time. The winger fired clinically past Tunisia goalkeeper Soulaima Jobrani, marking her first ever goal at a senior international tournament. Chinwendu Ihezuo got Nigeria’s third at the Stade Larbi Zaouli with six minutes remaining after converting a cross from Ashleigh Plumptre.
Algeria defeated Botswana 1-0 in the opening match of Group B at the Stade Père Jégo. The Greens secured three points to start the tournament and moved into second place in their group, just behind the Super Falcons. From the opening minutes, Algeria displayed tremendous determination. Farid Benstiti’s squad, buoyed by the experience of Sofia Guellati and the youthful energy of the team, quickly took control of the game. In the 10th minute, Ghoutia Karchouni broke the deadlock with a precise shot, giving her team the lead. This goal allowed the Fennecs to approach the rest of the match with greater composure. South Africa, the reigning WAFCON champion, began their title defence with a 2-0 win over Ghana at the Honneur Stadium on 7 July. Banyana Banyana opened the scoring in the 28th minute from the penalty spot, with Linda Motlhalo converting after Noxolo Cesane — playing her 50th match for South Africa — was fouled in the box by Grace Asantewaa. Lebohang Ramalepe delivered a cross from the right, setting up Jermaine Seoposenwe, who beat Cynthia Konlan at her near post. The Monterrey striker nearly scored again in the 63rd minute when she was played in behind, but her shot went wide.
A goal in first-half stoppage time by Saratou Traore was enough for Mali to edge a tight Group C encounter against Tanzania as both sides began their campaigns at the tournament. In a game of contrasting styles, the Malians’ extra pace and power ultimately won out against the pass-and-move tactics of their East African opponents, whose patient approach play lacked a cutting edge. The only goal came in the first minute of stoppage time at the end of the first half, with midfielder Traore firing low into the net from just inside the penalty area as Tanzania failed to properly clear a free-kick. The West Africans join South Africa on three points in Group C after the defending champions beat Ghana 2-0 earlier on 7 July.
The matchday two began on 9 July as Zambia demonstrated their quest to fight for the title with a pulsating 3-2 victory over Senegal in Group A at Stade El Bachir in Mohammedia. The win lifted Zambia to four points in Group A, while Senegal, who had been eyeing early qualification, must now regroup ahead of their final group match. Hosts Morocco secured a dramatic 4-2 victory over Congo DR in a thrilling Group A encounter. With this result, Morocco continued its strong WAFCON 2024 campaign with another convincing performance, while DR Congo would look to bounce back in their next outing after showing glimpses of attacking promise. Algeria and Tunisia played out a goalless draw in a North African derby on 10 July, at the Père-Jégo Stadium in Casablanca.
Nigeria scored a late winner against Botswana to become the first side to book a place in the quarter-finals at the tournament. In a crucial Group C match held at Stade Municipal de Berkane, Ghana and Mali drew 1-1 in a thrilling game that kept both teams’ hopes of advancing to the quarter-finals in the championship hanging in the balance. The draw brought Mali to four points, putting them in a strong position to qualify for the next round, with their destiny in their own hands. For Ghana, the path forward required a victory over Tanzania and favourable results elsewhere to advance. Veteran defender Bambanani Mbane rescued South Africa as the reigning champions had to settle for a 1-1 draw against Tanzania in Group C. South Africa moved back to the top of Group C, level on four points with Mali but ahead of the West Africans on goal difference. A first point for Tanzania kept alive their hopes of reaching the knockout stages, but the East Africans must beat Ghana, who drew 1-1 with Mali earlier on 11 July, to have a chance of progressing.
Racheal Kundananji’s early strike proved decisive as Zambia claimed a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Congo DR in their Group A as the last round of matches began on 12 July. The result saw Zambia advance to the next round of the competition while the Central Africans see the campaign come to an end. A composed first-half penalty from Yasmin Mrabet was all Morocco needed to secure a hard-fought 1-0 win over Senegal in their final group match, a result that confirmed the Atlas Lionesses’ qualification for the knockout stages. Algeria secured a vital point in a goalless draw against Nigeria to reach the quarter-finals of the tournament for the first time in their history. With Botswana beating Tunisia 2-1 in the group’s other match, Algeria’s hard-earned point was enough to see them finish second in Group B with five points, behind Nigeria who topped the group with seven.
The Super Falcons, already assured of qualification, made several changes to their starting line-up but still threatened throughout the match. Reigning champions, South Africa produced a dominant display to brush aside Mali 4–0 and sealed top spot in Group C, securing their place in the knockout stages in style. The result saw South Africa finish top of Group C, advancing confidently to the knockout stages as they continued their pursuit of continental glory. Ghana’s Black Queens advanced to the quarter-finals of the tournament after a hard fought 4-1 victory against Tanzania in their final group game on 14 July. Next up for the Black Queens was a quarter-final clash against Algeria, where they would look to build on their impressive group stage showing. With their place in the last eight secured, Ghana now turned their focus to the challenge ahead as they aim to make a deep run in WAFCON 2024. In the first quarter-final game, Nigeria thumped a hapless Zambia side 5-0 at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium, Casablanca on 18 July. Therefore, the nine-time Afrcan champions progressed to the semi-finals to face defending champions South Africa. Hosts Morocco booked their place in the semi-finals with a comfortable 3-1 victory over Mali in Rabat to face Ghana who thumped Algeria 4-2.
Algeria exited the tournament without conceding a goal while the Black Queens would now travel to Rabat to take on Morocco, who beat Mali 3-1 on 22 July.
Nigeria scored a dramatic stoppage-time winner to beat reigning champions South Africa 2-1 and book their place in the final of WAFCON 2024. Michelle Alozie’s delivery from deep into the box eluded Banyana Banyana keeper Andile Dlamini in the 94th minute to keep alive the West Africans’ hopes of securing a record-extending 10th continental title. The Super Falcons had led in Casablanca through Rasheedat Ajibade’s penalty on the stroke of half-time after Bambanani Mbane was penalised for handling Folashade Ijamilusi’s shot. But the holders fought back in the second half and levelled on the hour mark through a composed Linda Motlhalo spot-kick, awarded when Osinachi Ohale tugged back Hildah Magaia. That was the first goal that Nigeria had conceded at this year’s finals and it knocked the nine-time champions out of their stride. South Africa had to deal with a serious-looking injury to Gabriela Salgado with six minutes remaining but, just as the game appeared to be heading to extra time, Alozie struck to spark jubilant celebrations. Nigeria would now face hosts Morocco in the final in Rabat.
Hosts Morocco booked their place in a second successive WAFCON final after edging Ghana 4-2 on penalties in a tense semi-final clash that ended 1-1 after extra time in Rabat on 22 July. The Atlas Lionesses held their nerve from the spot, with goalkeeper Khadija Er-Rmichi making a crucial save and two Ghanaian players missing, to seal a place in the final against Nigeria. The defeat meant Ghana must now battle South Africa in the third-place playoff. It was a result that continued Morocco’s dream of lifting their first-ever WAFCON title on home soil. Ghana, meanwhile, would be left to rue their missed opportunities, but they still had a chance to end the tournament with a medal when they take on South Africa for third place on 25 July.
Ghana held their nerve in a dramatic penalty shootout to defeat South Africa and claim the bronze medal at the tournament in Casablanca. After a 1-1 draw in regulation time, the Black Queens triumphed 4-3 in the shootout at Stade Larbi Zaouli to seal third place in the tournament. It was a fitting end to a thrilling encounter between two fierce rivals with a history of closely contested matches at WAFCON. For Ghana, this was not just revenge for the 2-0 defeat to South Africa in the group stage, but also a repeat of their bronze medal feat in 2016—again against Banyana Banyana.
By achieving their bid for a record-extending tenth WAFCON title, nine-time champions Nigeria no doubt got the ending to WAFCON 2024 that they wanted. Nigeria ended the tournament with a trophy in one hand and the hearts of a nation cradled in the other.
References:
- “MATCH FACTS: Nigeria start TotalEnergies CAF WAFCON campaign against Tunisia” by CAFonline. 4 July 2025.
- “CAF increases Prize Money of TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (“WAFCON”) Morocco 2024, Winner by 100% and Total Prize Money by 45%” by CAFonline. 3 July 2025
- “With the new trophy, the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations enters a new era” by CAFonline. 2 July 2025
- “Ghana edge South Africa on penalties to clinch WAFCON bronze” by CAFonline. 25 July 2025
- “Morocco vs Nigeria: Dreaming of One, Chasing 10” by CAFonline. 23 July 2025
- “Chebbak rescues Morocco as TotalEnergies WAFCON opener ends in draw” by CAFonline. 5 July 2025.
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Story edited by Kehinde Fagbuaro
