Esther Okoronkwo has shared her excitement following Super Falcons’ thrilling 3-2 triumph over hosts Morocco in the final of the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
The 27-year-old forward was instrumental in the historic win, registering a goal and two assists in a fiercely contested final at the Stade Moulay Abdellah in Rabat.
Her clinical finish and creative play were vital as the Super Falcons rallied from a two-goal deficit to secure their record-extending 12th continental title.
Okoronkwo, who plies her trade with AFC Toronto in Canada, had an outstanding tournament, contributing two goals and four assists overall.
Her performance throughout the competition was key to Nigeria’s resurgence, especially in the knockout stages.
The final marked a significant personal milestone for Okoronkwo, as it was her first major title with the senior national team since making her debut in 2021.
Overjoyed with the achievement, she took time to appreciate the resilience of the Nigerian team and also acknowledged the quality of their North African opponents.
“I am very happy to be a champion. The first-half goals were unfortunate. It happens in football. When we went to the locker room, we gathered the fighting spirit because it was all or nothing. The Moroccan team has chemistry, they were a tough team,” she said after the game.
Okoronkwo’s performance has further cemented her place as one of the rising stars of African women’s football, and her role in leading Nigeria back to the top of the continent will be remembered for years to come.