Michelle Alozie scored a dramatic stoppage-time goal to secure a 2-1 victory for Nigeria against South Africa on Tuesday, propelling the Super Falcons into the final of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations. Nigeria will now face the winner of the upcoming match between host Morocco and Ghana in Saturday’s championship game.
The Super Falcons, aiming to bounce back from a disappointing fourth-place finish in the 2022 tournament, have set their sights on claiming their tenth WAFCON title, continuing their “Mission X.” Alozie, who plays for Houston Dash in the National Women’s Soccer League, launched a long ball in the fourth minute of added time that bounced past the South African defense and into the net without being touched by teammates positioned near the goal.
Earlier, Nigeria took the lead when Rasheedat Ajibade, Atlético Madrid’s forward, converted a penalty awarded for a handball just before halftime. South Africa, the defending champions, equalized in the 60th minute through a penalty scored by Linda Motlhalo.
Prior to this match, Nigeria had maintained a perfect defensive record, including a dominant 5-0 win over Zambia in the quarterfinals. South Africa reached the semifinals by defeating Senegal on penalties after a goalless draw.
The game also saw a worrying injury incident in the 84th minute when South African midfielder Gabriela Salgado was stretchered off the pitch with a heavily bandaged left leg, prompting emotional reactions from players and fans alike at Stade Larbi Zaouli.
