Ajibade, Nnadozie Win Big at WAFCON Awards

Super Falcons’ captain Rasheedat Ajibade and the team’s goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie spiced up the team’s 10th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title with individual awards

Ajibade contributed one goal and two assists in the tournament, but her overall performance in matches was what ultimately pushed Nigeria over the line. She was instrumental in dismantling Tunisia in the opening match and was named in the team of the group stage.

The captain, nicknamed “The girl with the blue hair,” won three consecutive woman of the match awards against Botswana, Zambia, and South Africa, respectively.

The Lagos-born player, who was the highest goalscorer at WAFCON 2022, also showed her leadership qualities in Morocco throughout the tournament.

She sacrificed her forward role to become an attacking force from midfield, and allowed Esther Okoronkwo to take and convert the penalty that started the comeback, before the AFC Toronto player went on to provide the assist for the winner.

Ajibade, a former youth international and WAFCON 2018 winner, has scored 20 goals since breaking into the Super Falcons setup in 2018.

Nnadozie on the other hand, kept clean sheets from the preliminary stage to the quarter final, before being beaten from the spot in the semi final duel against defending champions, South Africa.

Despite letting in two goals in the final, the Nigerian goalie was picked as the best safehand of the tournament.

Meanwhile, enterprising Esther Okoronkwo deservedly won the best player of the Match award in the final game.

The Nigerian team staged a dramatic comeback on Saturday night in Rabat, Morocco, defeating the hosts 3-2 in front of a passionate home crowd to lift the trophy.

Nigeria’s Super Falcons have once again affirmed their dominance in African women’s football, clinching their 10th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title spectacularly.

The record champions, often celebrated for their resilience and fighting spirit, lived up to expectations with another remarkable performance that earned them the continental crown.

Tagged ‘Mission X’, the campaign symbolised the quest for a historic 10th title — a mission the team embraced and executed flawlessly. With the victory, the Falcons extended their legacy as the most successful team in the competition’s history.

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