Nigeria coach Madugu hails players resilience in historic 2024 WAFCON final comeback

Nigeria women’s national team head coach Justin Madugu has praised his players’ mental resilience and fighting spirit following the Super Falcons’ stunning 3-2 victory over host nation Morocco in the final of the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).

The Super Falcons’ triumph on Saturday night at the Stade Olympique in Rabat marked their record-extending tenth WAFCON title, achieved in the most dramatic fashion.

Nigeria trailed 2-0 after 24 minutes and were second best to the Moroccans for the majority of the first half. However, Madugu’s tactical adjustments early in the second half, which saw the introduction of dynamic duo Omorinsola Babajide and Jennifer Echegini, proved to be a masterstroke.

The move paid off, with the Super Falcons scoring three times afterwards through Esther Okoronkwo, Folashade Ijamilusi, and substitute Echegini who scored the winning goal.

A visibly proud Madugu sang praises of the psychological fortitude of his team.

“If they didn’t have mental resilience, they would have given up. But they kept believing and they earned this victory. We did a lot of talking at halftime. We had a game plan, but what we wanted to avoid led to two goals [against us], and we had to make the changes we made.”

The victory sees Nigeria keeping a hundred percent record in the final and also completing what they had dubbed “Mission X”, a target to win a tenth WAFCON.