Nigeria’s Super Falcons captain, Rasheedat Ajibade has revealed the mindset that fueled the team’s remarkable comeback against hosts Morocco in the final of the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), saying belief, unity and a desire to inspire young Nigerians made the difference.
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The Super Falcons recovered from a two-goal first-half deficit to defeat Morocco 3-2 in Rabat, securing a record-extending 10th WAFCON title and completing what the team had dubbed “Mission X.”
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The Atlas Lionesses made a dream start in front of their home fans, taking control of the match with two early goals.
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Captain Ghizlane Chebbak opened the scoring in the 13th minute with a superb strike before Sanaa Mssoudy doubled Morocco’s advantage 11 minutes later after capitalising on a defensive error.
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Nigeria headed into the dressing room trailing 2-0, with hopes of lifting another continental title hanging by a thread.
Half-Time talk changed everything
Reflecting on the dramatic turnaround, the Super Falcons captain said the atmosphere in the dressing room at half-time was one of disappointment, but the players quickly rallied around one another.
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She explained that instead of dwelling on the scoreline, the team encouraged each other to keep believing.
“It was a very big lesson for us that we should never give up, believe in yourself and believe in your team,” she said.
She added, “When we went back into the dressing room, everybody was down, but we drew strength from each other. Everyone kept saying, ‘Come on, we can do it.’ Whatever had happened, we knew we had to give everything.”
What motivates our comeback against Morocco – Super Falcons captain explains how they won WAFCON 2024 pic.twitter.com/seM04RhTvd
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According to her, that collective belief became the foundation for one of the greatest comebacks in WAFCON history.
Falcons complete incredible fightback
Nigeria returned for the second half with renewed determination and immediately put Morocco under sustained pressure.
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The comeback began when Esther Okoronkwo converted a penalty after a Moroccan handball reduced the deficit.
Okoronkwo then turned provider, setting up Folashade Ijamilusi for the equaliser before delivering a perfectly weighted free-kick that Jennifer Echegini converted in the closing stages to seal a memorable 3-2 victory.
The triumph ensured Nigeria maintained its perfect record in WAFCON finals while extending its dominance as Africa’s most successful women’s football nation.
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Beyond winning the trophy, the captain revealed that the players were driven by a bigger mission throughout the tournament.
She said the squad wanted their success to inspire the next generation of female footballers across Nigeria.
“Another lesson I learned was playing for a bigger cause. Before the tournament, we told ourselves it wasn’t just about winning the trophy. It was about using the victory to inspire the younger generation,” she explained.
She added that the players knew they had to fight until the end because young aspiring footballers were looking up to them.
“If we didn’t push hard, how would the younger generation look up to us?”
Following their historic triumph, the Super Falcons demonstrated their commitment to youth development by supporting grassroots football across the country.
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According to the captain, the team distributed football equipment to nearly 150 grassroots football programmes in Nigeria after winning the championship.
She added, “We decided to play for you, and that was why, after the victory, we distributed football materials to almost 150 grassroots teams in Nigeria because the win is for the younger generation.”
