Nigeria head coach Justine Madugu has credited his team’s “mental resilience” after the Super Falcons pulled off a dramatic 3–2 comeback victory against hosts Morocco in the final of the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Rabat.
Before a raucous crowd at the Olympic Stadium, the Super Falcons looked on the verge of collapse after conceding twice within the first hour of play.
Morocco took a 13th-minute lead when Nigeria’s Halimatu Ayinde failed to clear a cross, allowing captain Ghizlane Chebbak to pounce with a fierce finish. The Atlas Lionesses doubled their advantage early in the second half when Ibtissam Jraïdi surged down the flank and delivered a low cross that was coolly converted by Sanaâ Mssoudy.
“We knew we could do it,” Madugu said after the match. “When we were two goals down, we kept encouraging the players not to lose their self-belief.”
Deborah Abiodun and Michelle Alozie celebrating with the new WAFCON trophy. Photo Credit: Justina Aniefiok
Madugu revealed that the mood in the dressing room at halftime was crucial in shaping the team’s response.
“We did a lot of talking at halftime. We had a game plan, but what we wanted to avoid led to the two goals, and we had to make the changes we made,” he explained.
READ MORE: Super Falcons stage historic comeback to clinch WAFCON 2024 title in Rabat thriller
Nigeria pulled one back in the 64th minute after a VAR review confirmed a Moroccan handball in the box. Esther Okoronkwo stepped up and calmly slotted the penalty past Khadija Er-Rmichi.
The Super Falcons drew level 12 minutes later when Okoronkwo dazzled past two defenders and squared the ball for Folashade Ijamilusi to tap into an empty net.
With the clock ticking toward full time, Okoronkwo delivered again — curling in a sublime cross for substitute Jennifer Echegini to sweep home the winner in the 89th minute, completing one of the most memorable comebacks in the tournament’s history.
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Madugu hailed the mentality of his squad in the face of adversity.
“If they didn’t have mental resilience, they would have given up,” he noted. “But they kept believing, and they earned this victory.”
The win handed Nigeria their 10th WAFCON title further extending their record as the most successful women’s national team in Africa.
