WAFCON 2022: Depleted Super Falcons fall to Morocco in battle for final place
Nigeria women’s senior football team, the Super Falcons have been defeated by hosts Morocco in a North and West Africa semifinal clash at the ongoing Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).
The Falcons were reduced to nine ladies in the second half following two red cards for Halimatu Ayinde (48minutes) and Rasheedat Ajibade (71minutes), before going on to lose on penalties.
An own goal by Yasmin Mrabet had broken the deadlock to put Nigeria 1-0 ahead of the Atlas Lionesses in Rabat, but the hosts equalized through Sanaa Mssoudy four minutes later.
Both teams battled until the end of 90 minutes and played another 30 minutes of extra time with no more goals, before settling for penalty shootouts.
Nigeria lost the shootouts 4-5 as Moroccans ran into wild celebrations in front of a packed stadium with mostly home fans.
The Super Falcons were gunning for a 10th WAFCON title having taken part in all the past editions of the WAFCON, while the 2022 edition is the Lionesses’ third appearance.
Morocco’s Cinderella story at the ongoing Women’s Africa Cup of Nations faces a big test when they host Nigeria at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat on Monday (today), News reports.
The Lionesses of Atlas have been impressive so far at the tournament, proving doubters wrong after winning all four of their matches so far, with South Africa the other country to have achieved such a feat in this campaign.
With a place at next year’s Women’s World Cup in Australia/New Zealand already guaranteed, both sides have turned attention to winning the WAFCON title but must first cancel each other out.
After a slow start, which saw them lose 2-1 to South Africa in their opener, the Super Falcons have grown from strength to strength to revive their title defence, winning their last three games.
While the Super Falcons are chasing the title for a record 10th time, the Lionesses are hoping to lift the trophy for the first time in their history.
While Nigeria qualified for the semi-final after beating Cameroonian 1-0 in the quarter-finals Thursday night at the Mohammed V sports complex in Casablanca, with the only goal scored by the impressive Rasheedat Ajibade in the 56th minute, Morocco made history with their first-ever qualification for the Women’s World Cup after defeating Botswana in the quarter-finals.
