Nigeria produced a sensational second-half comeback to defeat host nation Morocco 3-2 and claim their 10th TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title on a dramatic night at the Stade Olympique in Rabat.
Trailing 2-0 at half-time in front of a vibrant home crowd, the Super Falcons showed their trademark grit, experience, and killer instinct to flip the script and reaffirm their dominance as queens of African women’s football.
Goals from Esther Okoronkwo, Folashade Ijamilusi, and a late winner from Joe Echegini completed a remarkable turnaround, stunning a Moroccan side that had dreamt of winning their first-ever continental crown on home soil.
The final lived up to its billing—Africa’s most successful women’s team against a rising powerhouse hungry to make history.
Morocco got off to the perfect start, silencing Nigeria early with a brilliant 12th-minute strike from captain Ghizlane Chebbak, who curled home from outside the box to ignite the Rabat crowd.
The Atlas Lionesses doubled their lead in the 24th minute. Ibtissam Jraidi slipped a clever pass through to Sanaâ Mssoudy, who finished calmly into the bottom corner to put Morocco firmly in control.
Down 2-0 at the break, the Super Falcons looked rattled, but coach Justin Madugu’s halftime talk inspired a fierce response.
Nigeria came out with renewed purpose, and in the 61st minute, they were handed a lifeline.
A VAR check confirmed a handball by Nouhaila Benzina, and Okoronkwo made no mistake from the spot, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way to make it 2-1.
The goal shifted momentum, and Nigeria struck again 10 minutes later. Okoronkwo turned provider this time, feeding Ijamilusi, who rifled in a low left-footed shot to level the score at 2-2 and set the stage for a thrilling finish.
As the match edged towards extra time, Nigeria struck the decisive blow.
In the 88th minute, another smart move involving Okoronkwo ended with Joe Echegini calmly finishing from close range to complete the comeback and send the Nigerian bench into wild celebration.
Morocco pushed forward in search of an equaliser during a frantic period of added time, but Nigeria stood strong, absorbing the pressure and managing the game with composure.
For Morocco and coach Jorge Vilda, it was a heartbreaking end to an impressive campaign.
The hosts played with courage and flair throughout the tournament, but fell just short of becoming only the fourth nation—after Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, and South Africa—to lift the WAFCON trophy.
But the night belonged to the Super Falcons, who once again proved why they are the standard in African women’s football.
This victory marks their 10th WAFCON title in 13 appearances—a record that speaks to their unmatched legacy and enduring excellence.
In the face of growing competition across the continent, Nigeria reminded everyone that when it matters most, they remain the team to beat.