A dramatic stoppage-time winner from Michelle Alozie propelled Nigeria’s Super Falcons to a 2-1 victory over defending champions South Africa in a tense Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) semi-final in Rabat on Tuesday. The triumph secures Nigeria’s place in Saturday’s championship match, where they will face Morocco or Ghana as they pursue a record-extending 10th continental title.
Alozie, a forward for the Houston Dash in the U.S. National Women’s Soccer League, stunned South Africa in the 94th minute with a speculative long-range effort. The ball eluded both teammates and defenders before bouncing into the net, breaking the deadlock after a fiercely contested second half. The goal reignited Nigeria’s campaign dubbed “Mission X” — a redemption quest after their underwhelming fourth-place finish in 2022.
Earlier, Atlético Madrid’s Rasheedat Ajibade had given Nigeria the lead just before halftime, converting a penalty awarded for a handball in South Africa’s box. The reigning champions, who edged Senegal on penalties in the quarter-finals, responded in the 60th minute through Linda Motlhalo’s spot-kick, capitalizing on Nigeria’s first defensive lapse of the tournament.
The Super Falcons, dominant in earlier matches with a 5-0 quarter-final rout of Zambia, struggled to break down South Africa’s resilient backline in open play. Under coach Desiree Ellis, South Africa held firm until Alozie’s late intervention. The match was briefly halted in the 84th minute following a distressing injury to South African midfielder Gabriela Salgado. After collapsing unchallenged, Salgado required a stretcher and left the pitch with her left leg heavily bandaged, drawing emotional reactions from teammates and supportive chants from the Stade Larbi Zaouli crowd.
Nigeria’s victory extends their legacy as Africa’s most successful women’s team, while South Africa’s hopes of back-to-back titles dissolve into a third-place playoff. The Super Falcons now await a final showdown against Morocco or Ghana, aiming to reclaim the crown they last won in 2018. International audiences will note the growing prominence of African stars like Alozie and Ajibade, whose performances underscore the global reach of women’s football. Saturday’s final promises high stakes, with Nigeria seeking to solidify their continental dominance and the hosts or Ghana vying to script a historic upset.
