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CAF
02-07-2025
- Sport
- CAF
D-3 to the Women's AFCON: 1998, the Super Falcons' Unbeaten Run
Published: Wednesday, 02 July 2025 The countdown continues to the TotalEnergies CAF Women's Africa Cup of Nations, Morocco 2024. As we gear up for the 13th edition of the tournament, looks back each day at a defining moment in its history. With just three days to go, we revisit one of the rarest and most impressive feats: Nigeria's flawless 1998 triumph—without conceding a single goal. Only 3 days remain before the TotalEnergies CAF Women's Africa Cup of Nations 2024 kicks off. Hosted in Nigeria, the fourth edition of the Women's AFCON remains one of the most one-sided in the tournament's history. The Super Falcons, led by iconic figures such as Florence Omagbemi, Nkiru Okosieme and Ann Chiejine, asserted their dominance from start to finish. Nigeria opened the tournament with a resounding 8-0 win over Morocco, followed by another commanding 6-0 victory against DR Congo, and a similar 6-0 scoreline against Egypt. Three matches, twenty goals scored, none conceded. The statement continued in the semi-finals with a 6-0 win over Cameroon, before Nigeria wrapped up their campaign with a composed 2-0 triumph over Ghana in the final. 'We were on a mission. Playing at home came with pressure, but also motivation. We wanted to show that no one could match us on the continent,' Florence Omagbemi later told the BBC. Nigeria secured their fourth consecutive title in as many editions. But it was the how that stood out: five matches, zero goals conceded. A rare defensive solidity, paired with an unstoppable attacking force, cemented that squad's place among the most dominant in the history of the Women's AFCON. The 1998 tournament also reinforced Nigeria's football identity: fast, powerful play, built around a tight-knit unit and individual talents capable of changing a match in a flash. It paved the way for future generations ready to carry on the legacy of the trailblazers. With three days to go until the 2024 edition kicks off in Morocco, this memory is a reminder of the demands of elite performance—and of a legacy built on consistency, discipline, and ambition. The Super Falcons remain the benchmark on the continent, but the competition is growing. The stage is nearly set.
CAF
21-06-2025
- Sport
- CAF
WAFCON D-14: In 1998, Nigeria Secured the Most Resounding Victory in Tournament History Against Morocco
Published: Saturday, 21 June 2025 The countdown continues for the TotalEnergies CAF Women's Africa Cup of Nations, Morocco 2024. With just 14 days to go, we look back at a defining moment in the history of African women's football. On 17 October 1998, Nigeria, a rising powerhouse at the time, defeated Morocco 8-0 — a historic scoreline that marked both the dominance of the Super Falcons and the beginning of a quiet revolution in Moroccan football. Only 14 days remain before the kick-off of the 2024 TotalEnergies CAF Women's Africa Cup of Nations. It was a different era. A time when the Super Falcons not only reigned supreme over the continent but shaped its footballing narrative in their own way. In Abeokuta, on home soil and in their opening match of the tournament, the defending champions made a resounding statement. Nkiru Okosieme, Patience Avre, Rita Nwadike, Mercy Akide, and Florence Omagbemi turned the match into a masterclass. At halftime, Morocco trailed 5-0. Nigeria played with composure and brilliance. Final score: 8-0. A tournament record still unmatched to this day. But this match was more than just a result. It was a clash of two worlds, two stages of development, two contrasting visions of the women's game. More importantly, it marked the start of a journey — that of a Moroccan team that would quietly begin to learn, build, and invest. A country that, 25 years later, is set to host the very same tournament, now with ambition, maturity, and a golden generation. That 1998 match left behind no bitterness or regret — only a milestone, a beginning. Twenty-four years later, the Atlas Lionesses reached the final of WAFCON 2022, brought the city of Rabat to its feet, and earned their place at the FIFA Women's World Cup. Today, Moroccan women's football is a model of development across Africa. And the story is still unfolding. On the other side, Nigeria remains the immovable giant — multiple-time African champions, a wellspring of talent and fearless play. That 1998 victory was not an end, but a symbol of their enduring excellence. Now, on the eve of Morocco 2024, the Super Falcons arrive with pedigree, trophies, and a collective memory that makes them as formidable as ever.
