Atlas Lionesses Touch Glory… but the Title Slips Away at the Last Minute
In a gripping football night at the Olympic Stadium in Rabat, the final of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations concluded with an intense clash between Morocco and Nigeria, which saw Nigeria crowned continental champions following a 3-2 victory.
The Atlas Lionesses entered the match with strong determination and a fighting spirit, applying constant pressure from the early minutes. This was rewarded with an early goal in the 13th minute by captain Ghizlane Chebkoub, before Sanaa Mssoudy doubled the score in the 24th minute, leading to a well-deserved halftime advantage for Morocco.
As the second half kicked off, Nigeria turned the match around, first narrowing the gap with a penalty scored by Esther Okoronkwo in the 64th minute and then quickly equalizing through Fulashade Lajmilosi in the 71st minute.
In the 80th minute, a controversial moment arose that nearly gave Morocco the chance to lead again after a handball inside the penalty area. However, the referee reversed the decision to award a penalty after consulting the Video Assistant Referee (VAR). As both teams threw everything into search of a winning goal, Nigeria managed to snatch a third decisive goal, thus claiming the African championship in a match that will be etched in the history of women’s football on the continent.
