The Super Falcons lost their bid for a 10th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title tonight when they were defeated in the semi-final by hosts Morocco in Rabat.
Despite going down to nine women, the outgoing champions defended bravely and held the slick Moroccans to a 1-1 draw in regulation time and extra-time before losing the penalty shootout 5-4.
Morocco, cheered on by over 50,000 at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, scored all their five spot kicks while Nigeria’s Ifeoma Onumonu had her own saved by the hosts’ goalkeeper.
The hosts took the game to the Super Falcons early on and looked to be searching for the opening goal in the first 15 minutes.
However, the Super Falcons soon took over and were dominant for the rest of the first half. With the excellent Ngozi Okobi dictating play in midfield and Uchenna Kanu running down the left flank, the Falcons pressed high against Morocco and forced several errors.
Randy Waldrum’s side could not take advantage of those Moroccan mistakes though, with Onumonu often isolated upfront and Rasheedat Ajibade often double-teamed.
The first half ended goalless but all the action kicked off after the break.
Just three minutes into the second half, Halimat Ayinde, who had been solid in midfield, was sent off for a dangerous foul after a Video Assistant Referee review.
The referee had initially not awarded a free-kick for the foul, but replays showed Ayinde, probably unintentionally, stamped on the Moroccan’s ankle and could have caused serious injury.
The Atlas Lionesses looked to take advantage straight away and it took goal line clearances by Osinachi Ohale and Ashleigh Plumptre in the 52nd and 54th minutes for the Super Falcons not to concede.
The Falcons indeed went on to take the lead, Kanu applying the finishing touch after good work from Ajibade and Onumonu in the 62nd minute.
The lead lasted just four minutes as Morocco were back level after goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie spilled a cross into the path of Sanaa Mssoudy who smashed home the equaliser.
The Super Falcons were then reduced to nine women in the 71st minute as Ajibade was shown a straight red card for another ankle breaker after another VAR review.
It was all one-way traffic from there as the resilient Falcons held on until full-time.
The Super Falcons could even have taken the lead in the 21st minute of extra-time, the brilliant Gift Monday striking a long-range effort that crashed off the post with the Morocco goalkeeper beaten.
The brave Nigerian ladies withstood intense pressure from the hosts in extra-time to take the game to penalties.
Rita Chikwelu, Plumptre, Regina Otu and Monday all scored their spot kicks but Onumonu’s miss proved costly as Morocco advanced to their first WAFCON final, where they will face South Africa on Saturday.
The Super Falcons will battle Zambia for third place on Friday.
