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It has been celebration galore for the Super Falcons, after clinching the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) for the 10th time. The Super Falcons miraculously came from 2-0 down at half time to score three goals to defeat the Atlas Lionesses of Morocco, which hosted the tournament at the Olympic Stadium in Rabat, Morocco. The Super Falcons clash with the Atlas Lioness of Morocco was the most explosive encounter of the 13th edition of the African female football fiesta.
With the great victory, the Super Falcons went home with $1million in prize money and the new-look WAFCON trophy. Nigeria last won the WAFCON in 2018. The Super Falcons have eloquently distinguished themselves and made Nigerians proud as the most decorated female national team in Africa. Esther Okoronkwo emerged the heroine of the match, scoring one goal and providing two crucial assists in the second half of the match to enable the team to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. Folashade Ijamilusi and Jennifer Echegini were the other two goal scorers during the crucial game.
The Moroccan team had scored two goals against Nigeria in the first-half through captain Ghizlane Chebbak and Sanaa Mssoudy, which gave the Atlas Lionesses a commanding lead and fuelled hopes of winning its ever WAFCON trophy.
Morocco succumbed to Nigeria’s firepower. The great loss was the second in a row for the Moroccan national female team at WAFCON, having lost the last edition, which it hosted, to the Bayana Bayana of South Africa.
No doubt, the Super Falcons’ resilience in Rabat re-enacted the ‘never-say-die’ Nigerian spirit, which characterized the country’s national teams over the years. We can recall Kanu Nwankwo-led team’s heroic exploits at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, United States, where Nigeria won the gold medal and defeated stronger teams such as Brazil and finally Argentina. It also reminds us of The Dammam Miracle of 1989 at the quarter-final between the Nigerian U-20 football team and the USSR U-20 football team at the 1989 FIFA World Youth Championship when Nigeria became the first team to come back from four goals down to equalise and win a FIFA World Cup match at any level.
The Super Falcons did not just win the 13th WAFCON trophy; the team also won most individual honours of the tournament. Esther Okoronkwo won the Man of the Match for her heroics in the final, while captain of the team, Rashidat Ajibade, and the goalkeeper, Chiamaka Nnadozie, won the Most Valuable Player and the Best Goalkeeper Awards, respectively. Morocco’s striker, Ghizlane Chebbak, clinched the Golden Boot, as the highest scorer in the competition with five goals. The new head coach of the Super Falcons, Justine Madugu, won the Coach of the Tournament award.
We commend the Super Falcons and the coaching crew for the great feat. We also laud them for playing so well and winning all their matches, except one, en route to the final. They beat Tunisia, Botswana and drew with Algeria at the group stage. The team defeated one of the tournament’s favourites, the Copper Queens of Zambia, in the quarter finals, 5-0, and defeated the defending champion, the Bayana Bayana of South Africa, 2.-1, in the semi-finals. The Super Falcons impressed in the defence, midfield and attack. Before the semi-finals and the final match, the team did not concede any goal in all the matches played.
The Super Falcon’s victory is a testament to the industry of Nigerian youths, who have continued to fly the country’s flag gloriously at international tournaments and competitions. We urge the team to build on this triumph at the next FIFA Women World Cup, and reach a decisive stage in the tournament. In the same way, the Super Eagles should emulate the shining example of the Super Falcons and do everything humanly possible to qualify for the next World Cup.
It is heart-warming that President Bola Tinubu hosted the victorious Super Falcons at the State House and rewarded the 24 players and 11 technical crewmembers with the national honour of the Officer of the Order of Niger (OON). The players also received cash reward of $100,000 each and a three-bedroom apartment at the Renewed Hope Initiative Housing Estate in Abuja. Similarly, the technical crew received $50,000 each and three-bedroom apartment in Abuja. However, the cash reward for the Super Eagles coach was later upgraded to $100,000 by the federal government.
The Super Falcons have received sundry cash rewards from state governors and captains of industry. The Nigeria Governors Forum announced a cash donation of N10million each for the victorious Super Falcons and the technical crew. Besides, there is need for more investments in female football. Beyond football, other Nigerians who distinguish themselves in other sectors should be equally honoured and encouraged.
