In a breathtaking showdown on Saturday night, Nigeria’s Super Falcons completed a sensational second-half comeback to defeat host nation Morocco 3-2 and capture their 10th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title.
The high-stakes final, held in front of a packed home crowd, saw the Falcons rise from a two-goal deficit to exact revenge on the North Africans, who had eliminated them in the semi-finals of the previous edition. Under the guidance of head coach Justin Madugu, the Nigerian women displayed extraordinary resilience and tactical acumen to reclaim their dominance in African women’s football.
The match began with Nigeria putting early pressure on the Moroccan defence, but it was the hosts who struck first. In the 13th minute, a deflection fell kindly for Ghizlane Chebbak, the tournament’s leading scorer, who wasted no time in drilling a powerful strike past goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie. The Moroccan crowd erupted as Chebbak celebrated yet another vital goal in her campaign.
Nigerian forward Ijamilusi Folashade attempted to respond swiftly, but her tame shot ended comfortably in the gloves of Moroccan shot-stopper Khadija Er-Rmichi.
Morocco doubled their lead in the 28th minute. Mssoudy picked up the ball near the left edge of Nigeria’s penalty box and unleashed a low-driven, left-footed shot that eluded Nnadozie, giving the Atlas Lionesses a commanding 2-0 advantage. By halftime, the Moroccans appeared to be cruising to a historic victory.
But the Super Falcons returned from the break with renewed urgency and intensity. Their pressing was sharper, their passes more accurate, and their belief visibly restored.
They nearly halved the deficit when confusion between Moroccan defender Rabbah and goalkeeper Er-Rmichi nearly gifted the Nigerians a goal, but Morocco’s defence recovered just in time to clear the danger.
The turning point came in the 63rd minute. Ijamilusi’s clever cross back into the area struck the arm of defender Benzina. The referee pointed to the spot without hesitation, and Chinwendu Okoronkwo stepped up to calmly convert the penalty, sparking hope and belief among the Falcons and their supporters.
Nigeria capitalized on the momentum. In the 71st minute, Okoronkwo charged down the right flank, weaving into the box before unselfishly squaring the ball to Ijamilusi, who finished with precision to make it 2-2.
With Morocco rattled and Nigeria surging, the Super Falcons pressed on with relentless energy. The defining moment came shortly afterward, when Nigeria completed the comeback with a third goal, although the match report ends before detailing the final strike.
Nonetheless, the result confirmed a 3-2 victory for Nigeria, sealing their status as continental champions once again and extending their record with a 10th WAFCON crown.
What you should know
The Super Falcons overcame a 2-0 first-half deficit to defeat hosts Morocco 3-2 in the 2025 WAFCON final.
With this dramatic win, Nigeria secures its 10th continental title, reaffirming its dominance in African women’s football.
The comeback was inspired by Chinwendu Okoronkwo and Ijamilusi Folashade, whose second-half heroics reversed the tide in Nigeria’s favour.
