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AFCON 2025
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Who were the best players at the 2024 Women's Africa Cup of Nations?
The 2024 Women's Africa Cup of Nations has come and gone amidst palpable fanfare from Morocco to South Africa, and every country in between.
After a gruelling month, Nigeria's Super Falcons emerged triumphant, defeating host nation Morocco in the final in dramatic fashion.
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The Super Falcon's victory naturally saw several Nigerian players cart away individual honours, including captain Ajibade, who was crowned the Player of the Tournament.
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But was the former Atletico Madrid star truly the best player that graced the pitches in Morocco this past month? After a studious overview of the tournament, Pulse Sports has chosen the top 10 players at the 2024 WAFCON tournament to find out.
10. Racheal Kundananji
Amidst a disappointing tournament for Zambia, Rachael Kundananji still managed to stand out as one of the best players of the 2024 WAFCON.
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Alongside reigning CAF Women’s Player of the Year Barbra Banda, Kundananji started the tournament like a house on fire with some inspired performances for the Copper Queens.
The former most expensive player in women’s football history scored in every single group stage match for Zambia, including the solitary goal that earned them victory over Botswana, and also registered an assist.
Although she, and consequently Zambia, were sent packing from the competition by eventual champions Nigeria in a 5-0 drubbing, Kundananji still managed to make an impact on the competition in a way that she knows best.
9. Oluwatosin Demehin
Until the final against Morocco, where they conceded two goals, Nigeria’s Super Falcons had built their campaign on a solid defensive display, with Oluwatosin Demehin firmly at the heart of it.
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Her composure at centre-back was one of the major reasons that Nigeria had not conceded a goal from open play before taking on the host nation in the final, where they were eventually victorious.
In addition to her excellent reading of the game that helped her break up opposition play with ease, Demehin’s ability on the ball in terms of her passing and carrying were also key to the Super Falcons turning defence into attack.
As if all this was not enough, the Galatasaray defender managed to find the back of the net in Nigeria’s 5-0 hammering of Zambia, which was expected to be her toughest game.
8. Andile Dlamini
Like Nigeria, South Africa put up a solid defensive performance, especially during the group stages. The Banyana Banyana kept three clean sheets in four games before the semifinal against Nigeria, with Dlamini playing a starring role.
With only one goal conceded before facing the mighty Super Falcons in the Semifinals, Dlamini only lost out on the golden glove to Nigeria’s Chiamaka Nnadozie by one clean sheet.
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Dlamini was also the hero for her country in the crucial quarterfinal victory over Senegal, where, in addition to keeping a clean sheet during normal and extra time, she saved two penalties during the shootout to send her country to the last four.
She tried to repeat the heroics in the third-place fixture, but her save from Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah’s spot-kick could not stop Ghana from winning on penalties.
7. Chiamaka Nnadozie
Righly recognised as the best goalkeeper at the 2024 WAFCON, Nigeria’s Chiamaka Nnadozie was often the last hope of the stingiest defence at the tournament.
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With a competition-high four clean sheets in only six matches, Nnadozie once again showed the quality that earned her the CAF Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year award.
Even in the periods where some players managed to breach Nigeria’s impregnable defence, Nnadozie was more often than not on hand to save the day for the Super Falcons.
6. Refiloe Jane
While Dlamini was South Africa’s superstar heroine, Refiloe Jane was the Banyana Banyana’s unsung hero in midfield, without whom a semifinal berth would have been impossible.
In the absence of Thembi Kgatlana, many expected South Africa to be overrun in the middle of the park, but Jane stood tall against the naysayers.
Although she did not register a goal at the tournament, the all-action midfield queen covered every blade of grass, ensuring that, even against tournament favourites Nigeria, the Banyana Banyana had the lion’s share of the ball.
Jane, who wore the armband for South Africa, was also far from a shin-kicker during the tournament, with the TS Galaxy Queens’ midfielder providing some attacking input with a goal against Mali.
5. Ibtissam Jraïdi
One of two Moroccan players in the top 10 players at 2024 WAFCON, Ibtissam Jraïdi, playing in her third AFCON, was one of the stars of the hosts’ run to the final.
Jraïdi scored three goals and provided two assists, with only Nigeria’s Esther Okoronkwo being involved in more goals than the 32-year-old veteran.
While much of the plaudits for Morocco rightly went to captain and leader Ghizlaine Chebbak, it would be a disservice to Jraidi not to mention her match-winning exploits for the hosts.
In addition to rescuing Morocco with an equaliser when Zambia threatened to blow away the hosts in the opening game, Jraidi also had a phenomenal performance for the Atlas Lionesses against Mali, scoring twice to send them into the semifinals.
4. Ashleigh Plumptre
As far as defensive leadership goes, Ashleigh Plumptre continues to prove that she is at the top of the pile with yet another brilliant performance in Super Falcons’ colours.
Playing at left back, Plumptre managed to nullify all that came her way, bar a few shaky moments in the final, and was in no small way a key reason why Nigeria did not concede in the group stage.
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Even when faced with what was supposed to be her biggest challenge in Zambia’s star-studded attack, Plumptre stepped up to the occasion, with her usual tactical discipline and technical excellence, shutting down Barbra Banda, Rachael Kundananji, and Prisca Chilufya whenever they tried to make inroads down Nigeria’s left-hand channel.
The Al-Ittihad defender even managed to go on several attacking forays throughout the tournament, helping Nigeria create overloads to destabilise opponents in a truly remarkable two-way performance.
3. Rasheedat Ajibade
Rasheedat Ajibade was crowned the player of the tournament at the 2024 WAFCON and while the debate might rage on about whether or not there were other more deserving players, the truth remains that the Blue-haired girl from Lagos had an outstanding tournament.
While she “only” scored two goals and provided one assist, Ajibade’s role in connecting the Super Falcons’ midfield to attack was crucial to coach Justin Madugu’s master plan.
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Despite being played in an unfamiliar position at the intersection between midfield and attack, Ajibade was still able to prove her worth and impact both phases of play tremendously, proving to be a Swiss army knife for the finalists.
Her three Player of the Match awards, including in the nail-biting semi-final against South Africa, proved once again that Nigeria simply cannot do without the former Robbo Queens star, no matter where she is forced to play.
2. Ghizlane Chebbak
Had Nigeria not triumphed in the WAFCON 2024 final against Morocco, Ghizlane Chebbak would have been a shoe-in for the Player of the Tournament.
After being crowned the Player of the Tournament and Golden Boot winner at the 2022 edition, Chebbak was out to prove that even at the ripe old age of 35, she still had a lot to offer.
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The Moroccan captain was everywhere for the Atlas Lionesses, picking up the ball from deep, going past players to create openings, and still, somehow, being on the end of those chances; quite like Lionel Messi at the 2022 World Cup.
With five goals to her name during the tournament, Chebbak once again lifted the WAFCON golden boot, but sadly missed out on the ultimate prize in heartbreaking fashion at the final hurdle. She still has another chance to right this wrong with the 2026 WAFCON also being hosted in Morocco.
1. Esther Okoronkwo
Super Falcons’ Esther Okoronkwo registered an unbelievable two goals and six official assists (not including her shot against Botswana that was forced over the line by Chinwendu Ihezuo) in only six matches at the 2024 WAFCON.
Considering that Okoronkwo did not start in one of those six games, only makes that number more ridiculous, as it means she managed eight direct goal contributions in only five starts for the Super Falcons.
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In an alternate universe, those numbers not only earn her the MVP award for the 2024 WAFCON but immediately make her a favourite for the CAF Women’s Player of the Year.
Okoronkwo started the tournament with an assist against Tunisia, and then rescued Nigeria against Botswana, before starring in all three knockout games for the Super Falcons.
A goal and two assists against Zambia were followed by a winning assist against South Africa, as well as a hand in all three goals in the final for the talented forward, and it is no surprise that for many, including us, Okoronkwo was the standout out star of the 2024 WAFCON.