Image source: Instagram: CAF
The 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) truly marked a significant step forward for women’s football on the continent, not just in terms of on-field drama but also financially. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) substantially increased the prize money, highlighting a growing commitment to the professionalization and development of the women’s game.
The champions, Nigeria’s Super Falcons, are set to take home a remarkable $1,000,000. This doubling of the winner’s prize from previous editions is a strong statement of intent from CAF. The silver medallists, host nation Morocco, will receive a substantial $500,000, while Ghana, securing the bronze, will earn $350,000. These figures reflect a broader increase in the overall tournament prize pot, aiming to benefit players, coaches, and staff across the participating teams.
Image source: CAF
Adding to the excitement of this landmark tournament was the unveiling of a brand-new WAFCON trophy. This striking silver-and-gold design, with petals representing the 12 participating nations merging into a blooming flower, and a golden sphere patterned as a football adorned with a gold map of Africa, symbolizes unity, growth, and excellence. While the exact monetary worth of the trophy itself is not publicly disclosed, its symbolic value is immense, representing the pinnacle of African women’s football achievement and a bold new chapter for the sport on the continent.
The final match between Nigeria’s Super Falcons and Morocco was an absolute spectacle that will be remembered for years to come. Played in front of a passionate home crowd in Rabat, Morocco, the Atlas Lionesses started strong, taking a commanding 2-0 lead in the first half. It seemed as though history was within their grasp, a first-ever WAFCON title on home soil. However, the Super Falcons, with their rich history and unparalleled experience in African women’s football, mounted a stunning comeback in the second half. They clawed their way back, scoring three unanswered goals to clinch a dramatic 3-2 victory, securing their record-extending 10th WAFCON title. Nigeria has truly cemented their legacy as the undisputed queens of African football, having won the tournament an incredible ten times out of thirteen editions, an unmatched feat of dominance.
The third-place playoff also delivered its share of excitement. Ghana faced defending champions South Africa in a tightly contested match. After a 1-1 draw in regulation time, the bronze medal was decided by a penalty shootout. In a tense affair, Ghana held their nerve, triumphing 4-3 on penalties against Banyana Banyana to secure their bronze medal, a sweet victory that saw them avenge an earlier group stage defeat to South Africa.
Overall, the 2024 WAFCON was a resounding success, demonstrating the immense talent and growing competitiveness of women’s football in Africa, with the increased prize money and a gleaming new trophy further cementing its importance.
Immanuel Burns Johnson is a young and dedicated social media personnel. He was born, raised and schooled in Lagos, Nigeria. His hobbies include traveling, sports, political criticism and mobile games like C.O.D.M. Apart from these; he is also interested in skydiving and aeronautics. He is skilled in web coding and has a trait of hard work. This has helped him become successful in his field at a young age.
