Latest news with #EstherOkoronkwo
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
2024 Women's AFCON: Here is the tournament's best XI
CAF unveils its Team of the Tournament, dominated by Nigerian players, the champions of the competition. Esther Okoronkwo / @CAFwomen The Confederation of African Football unveiled on July 28, 2025, the Best XI of the 2024 Women's Africa Cup of Nations, following the tournament held in Morocco. Nigeria, the tournament winner, and South Africa, a semifinalist, lead this selection of players honored for their consistent performances. Nigeria, crowned African champion, and South Africa, semifinalist, share most of the spots in the 2024 Women's AFCON Team of the Tournament. Four Nigerian players and three South Africans make the cut. Morocco and Ghana round out the eleven with two representatives each. Between the posts, Nigerian goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie claims the top spot after recording four clean sheets and conceding only three goals in six matches. The defense is anchored by South Africans Karabo Dhlamini and Bambanani Mbane, Ghanaian Portia Boakye, and Nigeria's Michelle Alozie. In midfield, CAF selected South Africa's Refiloe Jane, Morocco's Ghizlane Chebbak—the tournament's top scorer with five goals—and Ghana's Grace Asantewaa. Up front, Moroccan striker Ibtissam Jraidi leads the line, flanked by two Nigerians: Rashidat Ajibade and Esther Okoronkwo.
The Herald
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Herald
Nigeria come from two down to be crowned African champions
Nigeria staged a remarkable fightback from two goals down to beat hosts Morocco 3-2 and win the Women's Africa Cup of Nations on Saturday. It was a record-extending 10th triumph for Nigeria, confirming their status as the most successful women's team in Africa. Esther Okoronkwo and Folashade Ijamilusi led the fight back at Rabat's Stade Olympique before substitute Jennifer Echegini swept home an 88th-minute winner. Morocco skipper Ghizlane Chebbak and dribbling winger Sanaa Mssoudy scored in the first half-hour to see the home team take a surprise lead as they sought to become only the fourth country to take the continental title after Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea and South Africa. A capacity crowd saw Chebbak increase her tournament tally to five goals as she fired home from the edge of the area in the 12th minute after Nigeria had failed to clear properly. Mssoudy's goal came 12 minutes later, after Morocco striker Ibtissam Jraidi had crashed into centre back Marvis Ohale and the ball spilt out for Mssoudy to cut in and finish, but the referee determined there was no foul play and let the second goal stand. Nigeria dominated play thereafter and forced a succession of set pieces but it took some good fortune to begin their comeback.
BBC News
3 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
World Football Wafcon: Nigeria shock Morocco to complete Mission X
Available for over a year Maz Farookhi presents reaction from Rabat as Nigeria come back from 2-0 down to beat hosts Morocco 3-2 in the Women's Africa Cup of Nations final. For Nigeria, it is a record extending 10th title, while Morocco have now lost the last two finals. The Atlas Lionesses led 2-0 at the break in Rabat through Ghizlane Chebbak's fine curling effort and a scuffed shot from Sanaa Mssoudy. But Esther Okoronkwo inspired the West Africans after the break, pulling a goal back from the penalty spot in the 64th minute after Nouhaila Benzina handled Folamide Ijamilusi's cross. Okoronko burst into the Morocco box and squared for Ijamilusi to equalise in the 71st minute, then teed up substitute Jennifer Echegini to score the winner with two minutes of the game remaining. Four time Wafcon winner Desire Oparanozie and BBC Sport Africa's Rob Stevens join Maz from the Olympic Stadium. Photo: Nigeria's players celebrate with the trophy on the podium after winning the 2025 Women's Africa Cup of Nations final football match against Morocco at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat on July 26, 2025. (Credit: AFP via Getty Images)
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Wafcon winner will stay in my heart forever
Jennifer Echegini says her Women's Africa Cup of Nations-winning goal for Nigeria will remain a highlight to look back on for the rest of her career. The 24-year-old midfielder swept home Esther Okoronkwo's free-kick in the 88th minute to complete a stunning second half comeback as the Super Falcons beat hosts Morocco 3-2 on Saturday. "I'm just going to carry this moment close to me," she told the BBC World Service. "If I'm ever doubting myself as a player, I just think of this to encourage me and give me confidence. "It's my first trophy I've ever won in my career, so definitely a memorable one that I'll keep in my heart forever." A record-extending 10th continental title for the West Africans had looked a distant dream at half time, as goals from Ghizlane Chebbak and Sanaa Mssoudy put Morocco 2-0 up at the Olympic Stadium in Rabat. But Okoronkwo pulled a goal back from the penalty spot midway through the half and then laid on two more goals in a compelling team display of mental strength. "We're 2-0 down in the final, it's half-time, you absolutely have nothing to lose," Echegini said. "It's either you play with fear and you lose the game or you put everything into the game and you hope you win - and we did so." Relive Nigeria's Wafcon 2024 final victory as it happened President hails 'Nigerian spirit' Nigeria had dubbed their campaign as 'Mission X', and President Bola Tinubu sent his congratulations to the squad in a video call after the match. He hailed the side's "spectacular" performance as one that exemplifies the "determination that defines the Nigerian spirit". "You have lifted our spirits. You are a pride to your generation," Tinubu told the team. "You have achieved the mission the nation dreamed of and prayed for. Nigeria celebrates you." Okoronkwo, who ended the tournament with two goals and six assists, said Nigeria's approach had been "all or nothing" after the break. "We knew we had to come up [with a] different strategy. We knew we needed to fight," the forward said. "We talked over it in the locker room [and said] we have to change the way we are playing. It just shows resilience in us." Former Super Falcon Desire Oparanozie, herself a four-time Wafcon winner, said her compatriots showed "the mentality of a champion". "I did not expect them to come back in that manner," she told BBC Sport Africa. "I think the motivation for them would have been: 'This cannot be the first time we'll lose in a final'. "Nigeria have been in the final 10 times and they've won all 10 times. That mental toughness and fight is something else." 'Painful' loss for Atlas Lionesses Morocco, meanwhile, will have to go back to the drawing board after losing a second successive Wafcon final on home soil. The Atlas Lionesses had hired 2023 Women's World Cup-winning coach Jorge Vilda in a bid to land their first continental title. Forward Sakina Ouzraoui hopes the side can bounce back ahead of the 2026 edition, which will also be hosted in the North African kingdom. "We don't understand what happened, but Nigeria are a good team," she told the BBC World Service. "They knew how to change the game and that's why they are the champions. "It's painful because we touched this cup with our hands, but not strongly enough. "For sure we will come back stronger. We are Morocco, so for sure we will win this cup."
Morocco World
3 days ago
- Sport
- Morocco World
VAR Scandal Overshadows WAFCON 2024 Final as Morocco Questions Officiating
Rabat — In a dramatic 3–2 comeback that secured Nigeria the 2024 Women's Africa Cup of Nations title, officiating decisions — particularly those involving video assistant referee (VAR) — have left Moroccan fans, players, and critics questioning the fairness of the match. The first controversial moment came in the 63rd minute when Nigeria was awarded a penalty. VAR determined that Moroccan defender Nouhaila Benzina handled the ball inside the box, although the ball struck near her body, raising concerns that the call was excessively harsh. Soon after, Nigeria's Esther Okoronkwo calmly converted as Morocco's fans loudly protested. Several minutes later, Morocco appeared poised to restore their two-goal cushion. A handball by Nigeria's Oluwatosin Demehin inside the box initially prompted the referee to award Morocco a penalty. But after a lengthy VAR review, the decision was overturned. Moroccan players and supporters voiced deep frustration over what many describe as a clear handball being dismissed. Referee team and context The match was officiated by Namibian referee Antsino Twanyanyukwa, marking the first time a Namibian officiated a WAFCON final. Twanyanyukwa was supported by assistants Alice Umutesi, from Rwanda, and Tabara Mbodji, from Senegal, with the VAR led by Rwanda's Salima Mukansanga — an all-women officiating team hailed by CAF for demonstrating the continent's increasing investment in female officials. Despite the symbolic significance, several decisions turned the tide of the match in Nigeria's favor and left the hosts feeling wronged. Reactions and mounting criticism Local media and fan circles described the overturning of Morocco's penalty as 'scandalous' and 'one of several serious refereeing errors' against the home side. Discussions sparked across social media and football analysis communities. Moroccan sports analysts argued that VAR, meant to ensure fairness, instead fuelled controversy by overruling what they saw as key decisions in the final results of the match. Many believe these actions may have fundamentally altered the outcome of Morocco's bid for a first WAFCON title on home ground. Monsif, a social media football commentator, lamented the referee's call, saying: 'Today, the Moroccan women's national team has faced the greatest injustice.' One fan echoed this sentiment, on social media, saying: 'There is a need to reconsider African refereeing, which spoils all African sporting competitions, or opt for referees from Europe.' From commanding lead to crushing defeat As for the match, Morocco had dominated the first half, with goals from Ghizlane Chebbak and Sanaa Mssoudy giving them a seemingly solid 2–0 advantage. However, Nigeria responded with urgency after halftime. Following the disputed penalty, they equalized through Ijamilusi and ultimately secured victory with an 88th-minute strike from substitute Jennifer Echegini, set up by Okoronkwo's free-kick. While the Super Falcons celebrated 'Mission X,' critics argue that officiating decisions overshadowed Morocco's confident start and well-deserved performance on home soil. Discussions on CAF corruption reignited The focus on refereeing in the WAFCON 2024 final comes amid growing scrutiny of the Confederation of African Football's (CAF) internal governance. A series of controversies surrounding CAF have previously been reported, from allegations of financial irregularities to accusations of interference and lack of accountability. In 2019, cases involving CAF leadership in which funds have gone unaccounted for. CAF's decision‑making structures have also surfaced, with factors that feed a climate of distrust whenever controversial calls emerge in high‑profile matches. These broader concerns explain why Moroccan fans view the WAFCON final's disputed VAR interventions not just as isolated match errors but as part of a systemic pattern. As CAF continues to face calls for greater transparency, critics argue the organization must go beyond symbolic gestures and appoint independent audit mechanisms, open up financial reporting, and ensure neutrality in officiating assignments. Without structural reforms, even well‑intentioned technological tools like VAR risk deepening frustration rather than delivering fairness. Tags: MorocconigeriarefereeingVARWAFCON 2024
