Alozie’s Stuns Defending Champions South Africa With Late Strike to Send Super Falcons to Final
A night crowded with emotions, and intense dramatic football, Alozie’s brilliant finish at the last minute, proved enough to help the Super Falcons claim a spot at the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) final in Morocco.
The match was trailing a 1-1 draw at the final minutes and ready for the extra time. The Super Falcons right back, Alozie, unleashed a moment of magic at the 94th minute, to give Nigeria a majestic 2-1 win, leaving the South Africans in a surprising shock and heartbreak.
The Semi final match between the two giants indeed delivered thrilling and electrifying moments for the fans of both teams. Everyone was moved to the edge of their seat from the start of the nail-biting encounter, to the very last minute of it.
A Game of Tenacity and Courage
The Super Falcons began the game with a commanding aura, dominating the Bayana Bayana within their eighteen yard box for most of the first minutes of the game.
Nigeria began the game with an early momentum and high pressing.
Rasheedat Ajibade, the Super Falcons’ captain, broke the deadlock before the end of the first half, after converting from the penalty spot, to penalize Bambanani Mbani for a hand ball foul committed in the penalty area, giving Nigeria a 1-0 lead.
The South Africans gained their grounds after leveling through a penalty kick which was converted by Linda Motlhalo in the 60th minute, earning Nigeria their first ever conceded goal of the 2024 WAFCON tournament.
The Solidarity Spirit and Silent Moments
The tides of unconverted chances kept waving at both sides of the team. The Bayana Bayana threats, upfront mostly came through striker Jermaine Seoposenwa, as well as key chances created by substitute, Noxolo Cesane while Esther Okoronkwo, Jennifer Echegini, and Chinwendu Ihezuo reciprocated from the other end.
Nigeria goal keeper, Chiamaka Nnadozie made crucial saves, putting up another excellent display at the goal post while Ashleigh Plumptre and Ohale were on top of their games to ensure that the scoreline does not go against them, keeping the South Africans at bay.
However, towards the final minutes, the pace and speed of the game soon dropped and became a moment of tears and sweat, due to a devastating leg injury sustained by South Africa’s Gabriela Salgado. Her birthed the spirit of solidarity by her teammates and all the fans of both countries.
The Alozie Magical Moment
The clock ticks to the last minute, with the final whistle set to be blown. Through the thick and thin of the last moments, Alozie’s strike created a scene of magic , rewriting the long waited 1-1 draw of the thrilling match into a 2-1 victory for the Super Falcons, earning them a spot in the WAFCON 2024 final, at the Olympic Stadium in Rabat, Morocco on Saturday, July 26, 2025.
The 11th WAFCON Title for the Super Falcons?
After the 2-1 triumph over defending champions, South Africa, Nigeria will be looking to win its 11th WAFCON trophy, when they face host country, Morocco, who also booked their spot in the final, at the Olympic Stadium in Rabat, on Sunday. Morocco defeated Ghana in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw.
