Nigeria’s Super Falcons are set to take on host nation Morocco in the final of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON 2024), in what promises to be a monumental showdown between the most successful African women’s side and a rising giant.
The Super Falcons punched their ticket to the final with a dramatic 2-1 victory over defending champions South Africa in a thrilling semi-final at Casablanca’s Larbi Zaouli Stadium.
Rasheedat Ajibade gave Nigeria the lead with a penalty just before halftime, only for Linda Motlhalo to equalise early in the second half from the spot. With the match seemingly heading to extra time, Michelle Alozie struck in stoppage time to send Nigeria’s fans into jubilation and secure their passage to the championship decider.
Morocco booked their place in the final after battling to a 1-1 draw with Ghana in Rabat, then triumphing 4-2 in the ensuing penalty shootout. The result sets up a historic first-ever WAFCON final clash between Nigeria and Morocco.
Nigeria, nine-time champions, are chasing a record-extending 10th WAFCON title as captain Ajibade leads a squad blending continental pedigree with youthful ambition. Their victory over South Africa snapped a 15-match unbeaten run for the Banyana Banyana and reinforced the Falcons’ dominance in African women’s football.
Morocco meanwhile have become the first North African and Arab nation to reach the WAFCON final, reflecting the dramatic growth of women’s football in the region. Having hosted the 2022 edition, they return to the final stage with strong momentum and home advantage
Saturday’s final is a rematch of the 2022 WAFCON semi-final between the two sides. The Super Falcons, who played most of that game with nine players after receiving two red cards, lost 5-4 on penalties. The match ended 1-1 in normal and extra time.
But at Rabat’s Stade Olympique on Saturday, Nigeria will be targeting revenge and reclaiming the WAFCON trophy in a campaign they have dubbed “Mission X” — a tenth crown.
If the Super Falcons win, that would be the team’s record-extending 10th title, having not won it only three times —Equatorial Guinea have two titles and South Africa have claimed it once.
For Morocco, it would be a consolation for a team that lost the last final to South Africa in front of a home crowd.
This year’s edition of the WAFCON was supposed to take place last year but was postponed due to a clash with the women’s football event of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
The Maghreb country will also host next year’s WAFCON.
The final is scheduled to take place on July 26, 2025, at 21:00 local time (20:00 GMT) at the Olympic Stadium in Rabat, bringing to a close a rescheduled tournament that garnered wide attention across the continent