WAFCON 2024: 5 things we learnt as Super Falcons dominate Africa once again

The Super Falcons of Nigeria made history yet again, claiming their 10th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title in dramatic fashion.

In a thrilling final against hosts Morocco, the Nigerian women overturned a two-goal deficit to win 3-2, cementing their dominance on the continental stage.

With the tournament now firmly in the rear view, here are a few take aways from the 2024 WAFCON.

With triumph in the 2024 WAFCON, Nigeria extended their continental dominance to an unprecedented 10 WAFCON titles and 12 overall African crowns, which now stands as the most in women’s international football history.

That puts them ahead of the United States (9 CONCACAF Women’s Cup titles, and one CONCACAF Women’s Gold Cup), Brazil (9 Copa América Femenina titles), and China (9 AFC Women’s Asian Cups), making the Super Falcons the most decorated women’s national team on their continent globally.

But it wasn't just about the silverware count. The Super Falcons played like a team on a mission. They didn’t concede a single goal until the semifinal stage. They scored at least three goals in three separate matches, including a brutal 5-0 dismantling of Zambia.

Coach Justin Madugu’s tactical awareness, the depth of the squad, and leadership from stars like Rasheedat Ajibade, Chiamaka Nnadozie, and Esther Okoronkwo all combined to deliver one of the most complete campaigns in WAFCON history.

No other team, past or present, has controlled the African women’s game like Nigeria. They’ve now proven they can set the bar and raise it whenever it suits them.

The excitement and competitiveness of WAFCON 2024 was undeniable, but there’s no escaping the structural issue that casts a shadow over the tournament: the way CAF handles World Cup qualification for women’s football.

As it stands, the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations serves as the continent’s direct qualifier for the FIFA Women’s World Cup. That’s problematic, and not just for scheduling reasons.

For starters, the next WAFCON is scheduled for 2026, and it will serve as the qualifier for the 2027 Women’s World Cup. This means that teams who struggled in the 2024 edition still have another chance to make the global tournament.

However, there’s a deeper issue here: without a clear seeding or merit-based structure, top teams risk clashing too early. In the 2024 edition, Zambia were forced to face Nigeria early in the knockout rounds, and that kind of randomness should not determine a nation’s World Cup fate.

Had this tournament been the last WAFCON before the Women’s World Cup, Zambia, one of Africa’s best chances of shocking the world would have been left at home.

What CAF needs is a system that mirrors what other confederations have adopted: seeding based on FIFA rankings, a dedicated World Cup qualification route separate from the continental tournament, with a transparent bracket that protects the best teams from knocking each other out in early stages.

After winning their 10th WAFCON crown, Nigeria expectedly dominated the post-season awards, with no less than four players in the official team of the tournament. Chiamaka Nnadozie was named Best Goalkeeper of the tournament, a no-brainer given her four clean sheets and game-saving performances.

Coach Justin Madugu was rightly honoured as Best Coach, guiding Nigeria through a flawless tournament. Rasheedat Ajibade was handed the prestigious Player of the Tournament award, but that’s where the controversy began.

Ajibade certainly had a great campaign. Her leadership, energy, and three Player of the Match awards were instrumental. However, many observers felt Esther Okoronkwo was unfairly overlooked.

Okoronkwo registered two goals and six assists, meaning she had eight direct goal contributions, the highest of any player in the tournament. She was heavily involved in the 3-2 comeback win in the final, scoring one and assisting Nigeria’s other two.

So, what exactly tipped the scales in Ajibade’s favour? Her three Player of the Match awards. However, observers also believe that some of these awards, particularly the one against Zambia, which some felt should’ve gone to Okoronkwo, seemed to carry disproportionate weight.

As we have seen many times in football, award processes can be driven by hype, name recognition, or matchday emotions, rather than objective performance data over the entire tournament, and this time, Esther Okonkwo was the victim of the machine.

Morocco’s women’s team have completed one of the most impressive transitions in African football. From total obscurity to back-to-back WAFCON finals in just four years, the Atlas Lionesses have made it clear that they are not here for the vibes anymore. They want to win, and they’re closer than ever.

For 45 exciting minutes, Morocco must have believed that their moment to supplant the giants of women’s football in Africa had finally arrived after leading Nigeria’s Super Falcons 2-0 in the WAFCON final.

In addition to back-to-back WAFCON finals, Morocco also reached the Round of 16 at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in their debut appearance, with investments in their domestic league, government backing, improved facilities, and access to elite coaching paying dividends.

With the 2026 WAFCON set to be hosted in Morocco, they have the perfect launchpad for redemption. Playing on home soil once again, with their rapidly growing fanbase behind them, Morocco could very well lift the trophy next time around.

Morocco are now in the conversation with Nigeria and South Africa, as true African powerhouses. The rest of the continent better take note, because the Atlas Lionesses are building something special.

WAFCON 2024 was filled with electrifying moments and dramatic matches, but it also laid bare the structural challenges that still hinder the growth of women’s football in Africa. Still, the tournament struggled with visibility, scheduling, and logistical issues that robbed it of its full potential.

Many matches not involving Morocco were poorly attended, and media coverage was limited compared to the men’s equivalent. Worse still, WAFCON 2024 ran during the same period as the Women’s UEFA European Championship, cannibalising global attention, making it hard for the tournament to truly shine.

Infrastructure also remains a concern. Nigeria’s team was even forced to relocate hotels mid-tournament due to substandard living conditions, a reminder that player welfare still isn’t taken seriously enough.

On the financial side, there’s progress, but not enough. The prize money was increased, but the runners-up only earned $500,000 compared to the men’s tournament, where second place takes home $4 million.

Still, the silver lining is clear: competition is improving. Teams like Algeria, Senegal, and Tanzania showed grit, with the latter earning their first-ever point in a major tournament. The gap between the elite and the rest is slowly narrowing.

The message to CAF is simple: you’ve seen the potential. Now match it with investment, planning, and respect. Because these women deserve more than praise, they deserve a platform equal to their talent.