From Harry Awurumibe in Rabat
Despite being in the minority, Nigeria made her presence felt at Olympics Stadium Rabat venue of the final match between hosts Atlas Lionesses of Morocco and Nigeria’s Super Falcons in the 13th CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) 2024 as the federal government delegation and Nigerians residing in Morocco went wide in celebration after the 3-2 dramatic victory over the host country on Saturday night.
The high-stake final was heading to a walk over of Nigeria after the Moroccans led 2-0 at the half-time courtesy of captain Ghizlane Chebbak’s 12 minute strike and Sanaa Mssoudy’s goal in the 24 minute, which sent shivers to the bone marrow of the Nigerians in the stadium and those watching on television from home.
Gloom and anguish took over the Nigerian section of the stands inside Olympics Stadium Rabat while the few members of the federal government delegation in the VIP section near the Media Tribune were visibly pained.
But the situation changed for the better when a half-time pep talks by head coach Justin Madugu and his tactical changes started yielding the desired results from the 64th minute when forward Esther Okoronkwo converted a penalty kick awarded to Nigeria after a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) ordered Namibian centre referee Antsino Twanyanyukwa to review a handball offence earlier commited by a Moroccan defender inside the penalty box.
The goal energised the Nigerian team as the Super Falcons played more offensively, and in the process, Okoronkwo dribbled into Moroccan box before squaring the ball for Florence Ijamilusi to score in the 71 minute to set up a wild jubilation in the stadium.
However, when substitute Jennifer Onyinyechi Echegini scored the back-breaking winning goal against Morocco in the 88th minute, capitalizing on a goalmouth melee after another Okoronkwo’s free-kick, the entire Olympics Stadium Rabat went dead while the sizeable number of Nigerians in the arena,
including members of the federal government delegation, supporters, and accredited journalists went wild in jubilation as they sang and danced to the pains of the Moroccan fans.
This is even as more celebration erupted in both State Box, VIP, Media Tribune, and on the pitch as soon as referee Antsino Twanyanyukwa sounded the final whistle after scoreline remained 3-2 in favour of Nigeria at the end of 90 minutes of the game.
Leader of delegation and the Chairman of National Sports Commission (NSC) Mallam Shehu Dikko; Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau; Chairman, Senate Committee on Sports, Senator Abdul Ningi; and three female ministers, Hannatu Musa Musawa (Arts, Culture and Tourism); Imaan Suleiman Ibrahim (Women Affairs) and Doris Uzoka-Anite (Minister of State for Finance) as well as the NSC Director General, Hon. Bukola Olopade, Hon. Sunday Dare, a former Sports Minister and Hon. Philip Shuabu, an ex-deputy governor of Edo state, burst into tears of joy, hugging, dancing, and singing throughout the presentation ceremony on the pitch.
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Others in the winning entourage who celebrated the victory at Olympics Stadium Rabat until many home fans left the stadium heartbroken while the Nigerians went back to their Marriott Hotel Rabat temporary residence were NFF head of delegation/ Chairman, Technical and Development Sub-Committee, Alhaji Inua Sheriff Inua (Ahlan), and fellow Executive Committee Member Ms Aisha Falode, Hon. Daniel Igali, and NFF top officials Barrister Okey Obi, Rajan Zakka, and Emmanuel Ayobunmi
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