In a tournament defined by resilience, rising talent, and revived rivalries, Nigeria emerged victorious to claim their record-extending 10th WAFCON title.
From group stage drama to a nail-biting final, the 13th edition of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations delivered football, flair, and unforgettable flavour, both on and off the pitch.
Having followed the tournament from Lagos to Casablanca, and all the way to the final whistle in the Moroccan capital, Rabat, here’s a look back at what made WAFCON 2024 unforgettable, the good, the bad, and the downright hilarious.
ON THE PITCH: Goals, grit, and glory
There’s no doubt, this WAFCON served up drama in full. From group stage stunners to heart-stopping semi-finals, the competition reminded everyone that women’s football in Africa is alive, kicking, and evolving.
Teams like Nigeria, Morocco, and South Africa brought their A-game, while sides like Ghana, Algeria, and Mali showed glimpses of growth and comebacks. The quality of play has clearly improved, and the players gave us moments to cheer, scream, and sometimes cry.
WAFCON 2024 didn’t just crown a worthy champion, it showcased the evolution of the women’s game on the continent. We saw tactical discipline, bold debutants, and established stars rising when it mattered most. From stunning strikes to comeback wins, the tournament kept everyone on edge until the final whistle.
I was there, in the stadiums, in the media stand, feeling the tension rise with every whistle. The emotions were real. The passion? Unmatched.
NIGERIA: A story that ended with a trophy
Before the final, I tweeted that I had interviewed Chioma Okafor before the match and hoped to interview her again after Nigeria lifted the trophy. And guess what? I did.
The Super Falcons defied pressure, fought off stiff opposition, and exceeded expectations to lift their 10th WAFCON title. It wasn’t just about talent, it was about character. They clawed their way through tough opponents and relentless challenges, showing why they remain Africa’s queens of the game.
From commanding displays to nervy moments, Nigeria showed composure, experience, and grit. As a Nigerian journalist, I documented every moment, and when that final whistle confirmed the title in Rabat, it was more than a story. It was history.
OFF THE PITCH: Culture shocks, cravings, and Casablanca detours
If you followed my WAFCON diaries here, you’ll know my Morocco adventure wasn’t all football. Yes, I struggled to keep up with regular entries, and I apologise for that, but trust me, the content never stopped coming.
In Casablanca, a driver once asked me to spend the night at his place. Finding good bread became an unexpected struggle, it seemed to vanish just when I needed it most. And then came the infamous search for proper Nigerian food.
A fellow Nigerian journalist gave us a Nigerian food plug number. When the food finally arrived, it hit differently. Forget the football for a second. The taste of familiar spice in a foreign land? It nearly brought tears to my eyes. It wasn’t just food. It was comfort. It was memory. It was Nigeria plated.
Then there was the mind game of daylight. Morocco’s sun became a low-key villain in my story. With sunset arriving at 9:00 p.m., my sense of time unravelled. I skipped lunch one day thinking it was still morning, and missed dinner another day thinking it was too early. Eventually, my stomach gave up, setting its own schedule. Time lost all meaning. Football became the only reliable calendar.
And credit where it’s due: Moroccan cities felt calm, drivers barely honked, roads were smooth, and electricity was constant; things that made covering the tournament far less stressful, even if the food and sun had other plans.
BEHIND THE SCENES: Promotion and planning missed the mark
Not everything off the pitch worked. For a tournament of this magnitude, promotion and visibility was surprisingly low. WAFCON 2024, as the name implies, was originally supposed to take place in 2024. But due to calendar clashes and poor planning, it was delayed until July 2025, and still, it wasn’t properly publicised.
You could count the number of billboards in Morocco advertising the tournament. Few locals seemed aware a continental women’s football championship was underway.
Logistics was another pain point. Transport arrangements varied wildly between cities. Journalists had to fend for themselves, with no clear structure from the Local Organising Committee (LOC). These may seem minor, but they added up, especially when covering a fast-paced tournament that demands mobility, precision, and long days.
Still, as journalists, we adapt. We file reports in moving taxis. We learn words: wa alaykum as-salam, merci, bonjour, and shukran.
WHAT WORKED
The introduction of a new, modern trophy design brought a fresh visual identity to the competition.
CAF also significantly increased its investment in the tournament, doubling the winner’s prize to USD 1,000,000 (up from USD 500,000 in the previous edition), and boosting the total prize pool by approximately 45 percent to USD 3,475,000.
The host for the next edition, Morocco in 2026 has already been confirmed, giving stakeholders ample time to prepare.
WHAT DIDN’T
Tournament logistics for the media were virtually non-existent and left much to be desired.
Laser pointers used by fans during the final were a disappointing and dangerous blemish on an otherwise thrilling final. Incidents like this undermine the integrity of the game and must be addressed in future editions.
FINAL WHISTLE
This WAFCON was a beautiful storm. It tested and thrilled us. It made us laugh, scream, and occasionally complain on social media.
But more importantly, it reminded us why we love African football. It’s not perfect, but it’s ours. It’s raw, it’s real, and it’s getting better with every edition.
