WAFCON - The African Mirror

Jul

30

2025

NIGERIA honours Queens of African Football with millions and houses

WAFCON

IN the hallowed halls of the Presidential Villa in Abuja, history witnessed a moment of pure recognition - a nation bowing in reverence to its daughters who had once again conquered a continent. The Super Falcons of Nigeria, crowned queens of African football for an unprecedented tenth time, stood not merely as athletes but as embodiments of a nation's unwavering spirit. When the final whistle echoed through the Rabat Olympic Stadium in Morocco, it carried with it the weight of legacy - a legacy that began in 1998 and has flourished through decades of dedication, sacrifice, and unparalleled excellence. The…

Jul

29

2025

By The African Mirror

The Queen bids farewell: A football icon’s golden goodbye

WAFCON

IN the dying moments of a penalty shootout that would decide third place at the TotalEnergies WAFCON 2024, tears streamed down the face of a warrior. Not tears of defeat, but tears of completion. For Jermaine Seoposenwe, the Cape-born magician who painted her dreams across football pitches worldwide, this was the final chapter of an extraordinary 15-year love affair with the South African national team. As the dust settled on Friday's heart-wrenching 4-3 penalty loss to Ghana, one of African football's most treasured jewels quietly closed the book on a career that redefined what it means to wear the Banyana…

Jul

28

2025

By CHUKA ONWUMECHILI

Nigeria wins its 10th Wafcon title – but women’s football has never been more competitive

WAFCON

NIGERIA’S Super Falcons came from two goals down to beat Morocco 3-2 in the thrilling championship final at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) in Rabat. But even despite Nigeria’s stunning comeback, with a winning goal two minutes from full time, it has become clear that the days of the West African nation’s sole dominance of women’s football in Africa have ended. Nigeria’s return to the pinnacle of the important Africa-wide tournament should not be read as a continuation of the country’s dominance on the field. Yes, Nigeria has now won Wafcon 10 times in 12 competitions. But the…

Jul

23

2025

By Jovial Rantao

Heartbreak and Heroics: Defending champions fall as Morocco and Nigeria set up dream final

WAFCON

THE dust has settled on two titanic battles that will be remembered for years to come, as defending champions South Africa crashed out in heartbreak while hosts Morocco defied the odds to reach their second consecutive final. When the final whistle blows on Saturday in Rabat, it will be the Atlas Lionesses facing Nigeria's Super Falcons in what promises to be a spectacular conclusion to a tournament that has captured the imagination of African football. In what was billed as "the final before the final," Nigeria delivered a masterclass in tournament football, stunning defending champions South Africa 2-1 in a…

Jul

23

2025

By The African Mirror

Andile Dlamini: How to turn pressure into legacy

WAFCON

SOME people are born with it. Confidence. The way they walk. The way they talk. The way they approach high-pressure situations. The way they approach adversity. The way they stand out when their backs are against the wall. Andile Dlamini is one of them. She belongs up there. Three clean sheets in the three games that she has played at the TotalEnergies Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) 2024 in Morocco have Dlamini standing on cloud nine. South Africa’s finest and the reigning WAFCON Goalkeeper of the Year from the 2022 edition is stacking up exceptionally good performances like a…

Jul

20

2025

By Jovial Rantao

WAFCON2024: Four of Africa’s football queens ready for a battle for the finals

WAFCON

THE dust has settled, the pretenders have fallen, and now only the true royalty of African women's football remains standing. Four magnificent teams have clawed their way through the unforgiving gauntlet of the CAF TotalEnergies Women's Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2024, each carrying the dreams of a nation and the weight of continental glory on their shoulders. This is where legends are born and dynasties are forged. On Tuesday, the footballing gods will witness two seismic semifinal clashes that promise to shake the very foundations of the beautiful game. At the majestic Olympic Stadium in Rabat, Morocco's Atlas Lionesses…

Jul

18

2025

By The African Mirror

WAFCON2024: The Golden Boot inferno: A blazing battle for Africa’s crown

WAFCON

THE dust has settled on the group stage of the CAF TotalEnergies Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) 2024, but the real fireworks are just beginning. As eight nations prepare for knockout warfare, a spectacular duel for the Golden Boot Award has erupted into the most captivating storyline of Africa's premier women's football showcase. The Crown Jewel Contenders At the summit of this goal-scoring volcano stand two magnificent markswomen, locked in a deadly dance of precision and power. Ghizlane Chebbak, Morocco's talismanic captain and defending Golden Boot champion, has unleashed a four-goal fury that has opponents trembling. The Atlas Lionesses'…

Jul

17

2025

By CHUKA ONWUMECHILI

WAFCON: 3 signs that African women’s football is finally starting to thrive

WAFCON

WOMEN’S football in Africa has been through radical changes over the past few years. From small beginnings in the late 1990s, it has grown to the point that its biggest competition is receiving considerable global attention. The 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) is heading into its quarter-final matches, with eight countries still in competition. So far, the tournament, held every two years, has delivered the promised competitiveness. The days of wide gulfs between competing teams appear to have receded, the prize money has increased, and the tournament is finding willing audiences globally. As a scholar of sports communication…

Jul

15

2025

By The African Mirror

Hearts of Lions: Four nations exit WAFCON 2025 with honour intact

WAFCON

THE quarterfinal gates of the 2025 CAF Women's Africa Cup of Nations have closed on four dreams, but not before the Democratic Republic of Congo, Tunisia, Tanzania, and Botswana wrote their names in tournament folklore with performances that transcended mere results. In Casablanca's sweltering heat on July 14, Botswana's Mares experienced the beautiful agony of football's cruel arithmetic. Their 2-1 victory over Tunisia should have been a celebration - a testament to their fighting spirit as they clawed back from a halftime deficit with the kind of resilience that defines champions. Instead, it became a lesson in how dreams can…

Jul

15

2025

By Jovial Rantao

WAFCON2025: Champions assert dominance as knockout stage takes shape

WAFCON

THE defending champions sent a thunderous message to the rest of the continent as South Africa demolished Mali 4-0 in a masterclass performance that sealed their place atop Group C and announced their serious intent to retain the TotalEnergies CAF Women's Africa Cup of Nations crown. Banyana Banyana were ruthless from the opening whistle, with Lebohang Ramalepe striking a psychological blow just five minutes in. The forward's composed right-footed finish into the top right corner immediately established South Africa's dominance and left Mali's defence scrambling for answers that would never come. The champions' clinical edge was on full display when…