By

Eniola Olatunji 

Nigeria is set for her 10th title come Saturday at the Olympic Stadium, Rabat when she will take on hosts Morocco in the grand finale of the WAFCON 2024 tournament what has been described as the ROYAL BATTLE OF RABAT at 9pm.

There was a memorable encounter between both countries three years ago where Rasheedat Ajibade was red carded for a foul on a Moroccan and Halimat Ayinde was also red carded in the same WAFCON semifinal clash. 

Nigeria had to play 9 against 11 players which badly affected Nigeria in the 3rd place match as the two key players were not available for the 3rd place match against Zambia which Zambia won 1-0 via a 29th minute own goal by Goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie.

On 18th July 2022 in that semifinal match, Mssoudy scored an equalizer for Morocco in the 66th minute after Mrabet scored an own goal in the 62nd minute. Nigerian players were so confused and felt under severe pressure from a hostile environment that every player went to defend the goal area. 

Ref Maria Rivet of Mauritius was in charge with a capacity crowd of 45,562 routing for Morocco at the Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat which Morocco won 5-4 on penalties. Scorers for Morocco were Mrabet, Chebbak, Redoueni,El Chad and Ayane while scorers for Nigeria were Chkwelu, Out, Plumptre known as Oyinbo, and Monday. It was Onumonu that lost her kick and gave the finals ticket to Morocco.

I recall that despite the troubles, Rasheedat Ajibade of Nigeria; Chizlane Chebbak of Morocco and Hildah Magaia of South Africa that were top scorers of the tournament with three goals each.  Chizlane who was declared best player of the group stages of this tournament was the Best player of the Tournament in 2022. And she is a rattle snake of a striker that can pour venom on the defence of Nigeria if not taken care of. 

Nigeria knows how to neutralize dangerous players and turn them to mere passengers in a match. Ask Barbra Banda of Zambia what her nightmare was when Nigeria thumped her country 5-0 in this tournament. It is still the highest scored by a team in this tournament 

Morocco has gone to their Male Coach called Bald Man for technical advice to handled three rampaging Nigerian players in Ajibade, Okoronkwo and Chizuo who has three goals to her name already. Ajibade is a fiery player who exhibits skill, strength, vigor, passion and spray passes like water. Ajibade bagged the Woman of the Match plaque in three of her five matches namely against Botswana, Zambia and South Africa who were championship hopefuls in themselves.

Morocco cannot match the physical ad robust play of the West African side, collide with any Nigerian player or allow legs to clash and it will be hospital straight. It has been happening from the days of late Chairman Christian Chukwu in defence. He doesn’t even wear shin guard but kick him and you are out.

A South African player, striker Gabriela Salgalo tried that against Nigeria in a goal mouth melee in the semifinal of Tuesday and got admitted to Mohammed V1 Hospital, Casablanca straight from the pitch. Captain Ajibade known as Mummy G. O. led her colleagues to the hospital to visit Gabriela and gifted her with a signed jersey after prayers. While putting this report together, words came to me from Casablanca that the surgical operation on her was successful.

Morocco’s journey to the final in group A started with a 2-2 draw with Zambia; she drilled Botswana 4-2 piped Senegal by a lone goal. She mauled Mali 3-1 in the quarterfinal and slightly edged out Ghana 4-2 on penalties with scores at 1-1 at full time in a match that Ghana scored in the first half when she had the game under control.

Morocco may have scored the same 11 goals with Nigeria so far but conceding 6 goals shows that they may not be able to survive a freaky Nigerian ware wolf players who wants to score goals from any angle. It was only once that Morocco did not concede a goal in a match and that was against Senegal.

Nigeria sounded Tunisia a 3-0 victory to signal to all contenstants that nine times champions of Africa is not a joke; she piped Botswana that parked the bus at their goal mouth by a lone goal and drew goalless with stubborn Algeria all at the group stages. She then annihilated talking machines of Zambia 5-0 in the quarterfinal before she humbled the loud mouth South Africans 2-1 in the semifinal which the Mandela Babes Coach Desiree said it was mere luck to Nigeria.

Nigeria scored 11 goals; conceded only one goal scored by South Africa and had four clean slates meaning that her defence is as solid as the Olumo Rock. The insatiable desire of the Nigerian players to score from even outside the box or with fine headers is dreadful to the Moroccans who will rely on getting penalty kick during regular time of make Nigeria collect red cards as it happened in 2022 but Coach Justin Madugu who was assistant Coach at that time has assured that his team will be focused on Saturday. 

Morocco and other North African teams like to distract with whistle blowing from the stands; falling like over ripe pawpaw at any contact and rushing the Ref to ask for penalties. Don’t forget Morocco played a penalty kick within regular time, at each of their games 

Nigeria won the title an astonishing 9 times of which no African team has gone near. The wins were in 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006 (five consecutive times); 2010, 2014 2016 and 2018. Nigeria reached semifinal in all their 12 previous appearances finishing 3rd in 2001 and placed 4th in 2012 and 2022.

Morocco ranked less than Nigeria being at a distant 60 in the world went to the world cup only once in 2023 and was ousted at R16 stages. She was at WAFCON finals three times and her best was the Silver at the last competition she hosted in 2022. She was booted out at the group stages in 1998 and 2000.

Awards will be announced at the end of the soccer finale on Saturday. Ajibade looks good for Player of the tournament for winner Woman of the Match award in three games already; Chizuo could contest for a joint Golden Boot which is for highest scorers; Chiamaka Nandozie looks set to retain Golden Gloves award for Best Goalkeeper of the tournament.

Morocco will host the 16th edition of WAFCON in March 2026 which will be their 3rd consecutive advantage of hosting African women.