Africa-Press – Lesotho. Nigeria completed “Mission X” by winning their tenth continental title on Saturday night at the Olympic Stadium in Rabat, defeating Morocco 3-2 after coming back from a two-goal deficit.
Sanaa Mssoudy and Ghizlane Chebbak both scored goals in the first quarter of the game to put the Atlas Lionesses in command and appear to be on track to defeat South Africa and erase the memories of the 2022 final, which was also played at home.
After halftime, the Super Falcons’ lacklustre performance was replaced by a more determined and intense effort, and they tied the score at two goals thanks to a penalty kick from Esther Okoronkwo and a close-range goal from Folashade Ijamilusi.
Substitute Jennifer Echegini then made African football history by scoring a goal in the 88th minute to give Nigeria a record-tying 10th championship and put the country back at the top of the continent’s women’s football rankings.
After a period of constant pressure, Morocco’s captain Ghizlane Chebbak scored the first goal in the 13th minute when he whipped home a right-footed drive from the “D” of Nigeria’s penalty area.
The teams had previously exchanged half chances. After a hopeful cross from the right found its way to the FAR Rabat forward, Sanaa Mssoudy scored a low, left-footed shot just over ten minutes later to double the Atlas Lionesses’ advantage.
Nigeria upped their game through the remainder of the first half, though they created no clear chances with which to test out Morocco goalkeeper Khadija Errmichi, leaving the score 2-0 in favour of the host nation at the interval.
Nigeria dominated possession and forced Morocco to sit deep in defence as the second half settled into a similar pattern as the first half ended, but the North Africans posed a threat with their speed, particularly through Sakina Ouzraoui’s counterattack.
Just before the hour, the Super Falcons made a lineup change by adding Jennifer Echegini and Rinsola Babajide. Their attacking pressure paid off in the 63rd minute when Morocco defender Nouhaila Benzina was awarded a penalty (following a VAR review) for hand-balling.
With a penalty kick from Esther Okoronkwo, the West Africans immediately re-entered the game at 1-2.
In the 71st minute, Okoronkwo made a crucial contribution to the equalising goal by driving into the penalty area and then selflessly setting up Folashade Ijamilusi, who scored from close range to make it 2-2.
The Super Falcons seemed to have the upper hand, but in the 79th minute, defender Oluwatosin Demehin gave Morocco a penalty of their own.
But much to the chagrin of the home crowd, the referee changed her mind following a VAR review.
Then, in the 88th minute, Echegini scored Nigeria’s third goal, completing “Mission X” for the Super Falcons and making it 3-2 after Okoronkwo’s free kick was delivered.
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