AFC Toronto forward powers Super Falcons WAFCON 2024 ‘Mission X’ to fruition with her sweet left foot
By Ed Emeanua
Nine-time past champions Nigeria was always going to be considered major threat for titlist at the just concluded 2024 Women’s African Cup of Nations (WAFCON) championship with the formidable South Africa defending.
Certainly, not after Super Falcons had characteristically publicly stated their lack of illusion over the opposition against their bold intentions at the championship well before its commencement. Nigeria adopted the mantra “Mission X” for the championship with Goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie stating on arrival to Morocco that: “We’re here to take home what is rightfully ours.”
Hosts Morocco was just one of the dangerous floaters for the title, with other dark horses in Zambia, Ghana, Mali, Senegal, and Tunisia, also with similar ambitions. The stage was set for an epic battle for the diadem with twelve contenders in the fray.
When all was said and done, it was mission accomplished once again for the Super Falcons of Nigeria. Africa’s most successful Women’s national team waltzed through to an inspired 3–2 comeback win over hosts Morocco to capture the brand new WAFCON cup on first try.
The victory is Nigeria’s tenth in the editions, which the nation’s women’s side achieved on Saturday night at the Olympic Stadium in Rabat, where AFC Toronto forward Esther Okoronkwo clearly emerged as the star of her nation’s WAFCON 2024 story.
Who would have thought the 28-year-old forward the likeliest to turn fate around in such a high stakes encounter when all the chips were down against the Nigerians, with her team 2-0 under water amidst a stadium packed to the brim with over-zealously ecstatic Moroccans spurring the Atlas Lionesses on?
Least of all, Okoronkwo has been dwarfed by the presence of versatile striker and six-time CAF African Women’s player of the year awardee, Asisat Oshoala, in the Nigerian team.
So too was team captain and Atletico Madrid forward Rasheedat Ajibade and goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, a two-time CAF African goalkeeper of the year winner taller in repute than Okoronkwo in the Super Falcons side.
Credit: cafonline
However, it was the AFC Toronto star who rose taller to bail out her sinking team with their sails twice broken by a buoyed Atlas Lionesses in the first half of the epic final game.
Okoronkwo’s emergence as a Super Falcons leader has been gradual and steady. She earned her Nigeria senior debut in a friendly on June 10, 2021, against The Reggae Girlz of Jamaica and scored her first international goal in a 2022 WAFCON qualifier against Cote d’Ivoire in Abidjan, helping her nation to a 1-0 away win and championship qualification.
The Abia State born talent made Nigeria’s 23-woman team to the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup and the 2024 Nigeria Summer Olympics squad, becoming a mainstay in the national team setup.
Morocco roared to a gallant start in the 21,000-capacity filled venue and shot into the lead with only 13 minutes into the tie. Atlas Lionesses mercurial captain Ghizlane Chebbak led the charge for her side by scoring the first goal with a breathtaking shot from outside the box, rifling her curling strike low to elude the diving length of goalkeeper Nnadozie.
Jorge Vilda’s side then upped the ante with another strike in the 21st minute with Sanaâ Mssoudy stretching Atlas Lionesses’ lead. Mssoudy’s goal came off a clever Ibtissam Jraidi slipped-in pass to Mssoudy in space, allowing the sleek Moroccan winger enough room to make a measured bottom right finish.
Astounded, Nigeria went into the break down by two goals and licking their wounds. But Justin Madugu’s heroines returned from half-time break full of determination and much eagerness to make a response,
Okoronkwo took charge after a VAR review handed Nigeria a hitherto elusive opening against a well rehashed Moroccan resilience led by center back Nouhaila Benzina after the hour mark. Cruelly, VAR held Benzina culprit for the handball incident in the penalty call, allowing Okoronkwo to score from the spot and halving Morocco’s lead in the 64th minute.
Rather than being dissipated by providence, the Super Falcons were energized by the chance of fate. Six minutes later, Okoronkwo ran rings around a handful of Moroccan opposition maneuvering her way into the opponent’s eighteen yard box before turning into a provider after kneading the ball through to a well-positioned Folashade Ijamilusi, who threaded the ball beneath stranded goalkeeper Khadija Er-Rmichi and into the bottom corner drawing Nigeria level on 2 goals apiece.
With just 2 minutes left on the clock, Nigeria scored the winner when Okoronkwo sweet left footed delivery off a freekick assisted Jennifer Echegini to calmly redirect the ball into the far right corner of Er-Rmichi’s net in the 88th minute, completing a famous comeback in a WAFCON final game.
Okoronkwo’s heroics at the final game establishes her as one of Nigeria’s standout stars at the 2024 WAFCON. Her sweet left foot became increasingly effervescent from the quarterfinals stage of the tournament when she scored once and twice assisted her teammates to find the net in Nigeria’s 5-0 mauling of gusty Zambia.
However, her best game was served out at the final event where Okoronkwo unsheathed and then thrust her dagger into the hearts of Moroccans, ensuring the remarkable brevity to their enduring vociferous support.
It was a game where the Nigerian forward marshaled out a well-crafted rendition of superlative football artistry which saw her putting away a sublimely taken spot kick, providing a breathtaking assist for Ijamilusi’s leveler at 2-2, and teeing up Echegini to score the winning goal off a supremely taken free kick. Okoronkwo’s inspiration was truly the difference in Super Falcons’ dramatic 3-2 comeback domination over Morocco and their accomplishment of “Mission X” at WAFCON 2024.
Okoronkwo picked up Player of the Match award for her brilliance, while Nnadozie emerged Goalkeeper of the Tournament and Chebbak won the championship’s highest goal scorer award.
Rasheedat Ajibade picked up the Player of the Tournament title for her brilliance all through the championship.
