Nigeria defeats Morocco to win record-expanding 10th ladies Afcon title

Nigeria organized a remarkable fightback of two goals to beat host Morocco with 3-2 and to win the ladies Africa Cup of Nations on Saturday.

It was a record-expanding 10th triumph for Nigeria, which confirmed the status as the most successful women’s team in Africa.

Esther Okoronkwo and Folashade IJamilusi led the fight back in Rabat’s Stade Olympique before the replacement Jennifer Echegini fell home for an 88th minute.

Morocco skipper Ghizlane Chebbak and winger Sanaa Mssoudy scored in the first half hour to see the home team take a surprise lead because it only wanted to be the fourth country that would take the continental title after Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea and South Africa.

Chebbak saw a capacity -mixing raising to five goals when she shot home in the 12th minute after Nigeria shot home after Nigeria had not liberated properly.

Mssoudy’s goal came 12 minutes later, after Morocco striker Ibtissam Jraidi crashed into the middle, Marvis Ohale and the ball ran out for Mssoudy to cut and end, but the referee established that there was no false game and left the second goal.

Nigeria then dominated the game and forced a succession of set pieces, but it was lucky to start their comeback.

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The cross of IJamilusi hit defender Nouhaila Benzina on the hand, but Nigeria was only awarded a penalty after a VAR assessment. Okoronkwo stopped the spot kick to reduce the score in the 64th minute.

Seven minutes later it was the same when Okoronkwo took its way through the Moroccan defense for selfless squares for IJamilusi to tap the ball home.

Morocco then received a penalty with 10 minutes to go in another controversial handball call, but this was destroyed after the referee was asked to assess.

A crestfallen home team was then caught when Echegeni ran on the ball and stopped it up close for a dramatic winner.

Nigeria has now won 10 of the 13 editions of the tournament and restored the continental dominance after he had given the title to South Africa during the last edition in 2022.