BY ANDREW EKEJIUBA
South Africa’s Banyana Banyana has emerged winner of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (AWCON 2022) thanks to their 2-1 triumph over Morocco at the Prince Moulay Stadium in Rabat at the weekend.
The Atlas Lions clearly dominated the Banyana Banyana by controlling the ball than their opponent in the first stanza.
However, South Africans were really solid behind as Morocco were yet to have a shot on target.
Banyana Banyana on the other hand had six shots and two on target despite running after the ball mostly in the first half.
Desiree Ellis and Reynald Pedros changed their speech in the locker rooms in order to win the game in the second half.
And it paid off as Mildah Magaia bagged a brace for Banyana Banyana who won the game by 2-1 with Rosella Ayane’s reducer.
South Africa won the trophy and joined African nations who won both the AWCON and the AFCON.
Meanwhile, Copper Queens of Zambia defeated fine-tune champions Nigeria to win their first AWCON title as they finished third in the tourney.
Zambia who started the tournament with impressive performance even without some of their key senior players like Barbara Banda defeated the mighty Super Falcons 1-0.
Nigeria was regarded as the favourite to win the AWCON 2022 with their star-studded side but a shocking 2-1 loss to South Africa and a 4-5 penalty shootout loss to host Morocco shattered their dream.
The Super Falcons decided to settle for bronze medal but again were denied by a more determined Zambian side.
Nigeria dominated possession and had more scoring opportunities in the third place game played at the Stade Mohammed V.
Nigeria would have themselves to blame after failing to make most of their chances count.
Okobi set up Ucheibe inside the Zambians’ area in the 22nd minute but the latter fired wide.
It was the Zambia who got broke the deadlock in the 28th minute through youngster Evarine Katongo, who released a thunderbolt from outside the box but hit the goal post.
The ball bounced off goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie and found its way into the back of the net.
Nigeria almost levelled in the 56th minute through Monday Gift, but the forward missed a clear sitter.
The Super Falcons threw everything in their arsenal on Zambia in their bid to equalize, but the Copper Queens did not botched as they held on to their 1-0 lead to claim their precious bronze medal.
