WAFCON:
Nigeria Win 10th Title In Dramatic Comeback Win Against Hosts,Morocco.
…Earn N1.6billion Prize Purse
..Esther Okoronkwo Emerges Player of The Match
By Yadnom Awu/ Asaba
Nigeria set up a historic feat tonight, when, from a first half two – goals deficit, the Super Falcons resurged to earn a three- two goals victory over hosts, Morocco.
Nigeria netted three classic goals in the second half to cancel out a two- goal deficit recorded in the first half.
In a befitting cap to the victory tonight, Esther Okoronkwo was voted Player of the match.
Going into tonight’s game, Nigeria had the record of most wins at WAFCON, with nine victories in the nine final games it had played in the championship.
Tonight’s victory makes it 10 wins in the same number of finals.
This means that the Super Falcons had won every match they had played in the final of the championship over nine editions.
Nigeria made the initial forays, thus raising the hopes of their fans.
But it was the Atlas Lionesses who, against the run of play, dissected the Nigerian defence and, during a short-lived melee in the Nigerian vital area, Captain Cheebak netted the opener for the hosts .
That was in the 13th minute.
Stung, the Falcons tried to restore dominance but lack of effective cohesion, especially in the midfield ,cost them dear.
In the 25th minute, the Moroccans, again, latching on another defensive error, capitalized to net their second through roving Missoudy .
The first half thus ended by two goals to nil in favour of the Lionesses.
On resumption, the Nigerians reoiled their formation and got their first goal via a penalty taken by Esther Okoronkwo who made no mistake from the spot.
That was in the 60th minute.
Thereafter, Nigeria regained esteem, and, in the 70th minute, netted the second to equalise.
Morocco thought they had earned the prospect of winning when a penalty was awarded them.
However, after a review, the award was overturned and cancelled .
The Falcons reignited sheer magic when, off a free kick by Okoronkwo, Echiejile swept the resultant volley into the net to register their third and the fifth of the tie.
In tonight’s game Morocco was seeking an elusive final game victory and the related trophy.
It was also seeking to purloin the achievement of Equatorial Guinea which won the trophy on each of the two occasions it hosted the championship.
Besides, the Atlas Lionesses were equally itching to repeat their 2022 edition performance when they beat the Super Falcons, and equally wanted to set the record of the first North African country to win the trophy.
The winner of tonight’s final game is to receive a prize purse of $1m ( about N1.6billion ) while the runner up is entitled to $500,000 ( about N820million).
The winner of the third place match and the bronze medal, earned $300,000( about N480million).
The Super Falcons had tagged their participation in the 2024 edition of WAFCON as Project X, X being the Roman figure for number 10.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had in a solidarity message to the Super Falcons urged them to strive to lift the trophy for a record 10th time .
