WAFCON 3rd Place + Awards Wrap
By IDNN Sports Desk
Ghana’s Black Queens edged out South Africa to claim the bronze medal at the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, triumphing 4-3 in a penalty shootout following a tense 1-1 draw in Casablanca on Friday.
Nonhlanhla Mthandi opened the scoring for Banyana Banyana just before the break with a stunning strike from outside the area. But Ghana hit back in the 68th minute when defender Alice Kusi’s attempted clearance was deflected into her own net by South Africa goalkeeper Andile Dlamini.
The drama intensified late in regulation time as Ghana nearly stole the win, with Evelyn Badu rattling the crossbar in stoppage time.
In the ensuing shootout, Ghana goalkeeper Cynthia Konlan emerged as the hero — saving two spot kicks to deny the defending champions and secure her side’s first WAFCON top-three finish since 2016.
🏅 NIGERIA CLEAN HOUSE AT AWARDS CEREMONY
Nigeria’s triumph in Rabat didn’t end with the final whistle — it extended into the post-tournament accolades, where the Super Falcons claimed a dominant share of the individual honours.
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Most Valuable Player (MVP): Rasheedat Ajibade
The Super Falcons captain was instrumental throughout the tournament, providing leadership, pace and tactical intelligence that carried Nigeria to a 10th crown. -
Best Goalkeeper: Chiamaka Nnadozie
The Brighton FC goalkeeper conceded only one goal from open play until the final and was pivotal in Nigeria’s semi-final and final matchups. -
Coach of the Tournament: Justin Madugu
Appointed on an interim basis, Madugu guided Nigeria from group-stage stumbles to title glory — outclassing Jorge Vilda’s Morocco and Desiree Ellis’s South Africa. -
Golden Boot: Ghizlane Chebbak (Morocco) – 5 goals
Despite her team’s loss in the final, Chebbak led the scoring charts with five goals and helped Morocco reach back-to-back finals. -
Fair Play Award: South Africa
Banyana Banyana were recognised for their discipline and sporting conduct, despite a tough end to their title defense.
CAF REFLECTS ON LANDMARK EDITION
CAF President Patrice Motsepe described WAFCON 2024 as “a showcase of African excellence,” applauding the competitiveness and rising technical standards witnessed throughout the tournament.
“This edition raised the bar,” Motsepe said. “And we expect even greater things in 2025.”
The 2025 edition is scheduled to return to Morocco — with Nigeria as defending champions and all eyes on whether a new challenger can finally dethrone the continent’s dominant queens.
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