Despite Nigeria losing on penalties against Morocco in the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations semifinals on Monday night, Chiamaka Nnadozie was awarded Woman of the Match.
The Super Falcons were defeated 5-4 on penalties after the game finished in a 1-1 draw in normal time and another thirty minutes of extra time.
Randy Waldrum’s side played large parts of the game disadvantaged due to the dismissals of Halimatu Ayinde (48′) and Rasheedat Ajibade (71′) who were both shown red cards in the second half.
Yasmin Mirabet’s own goal gave the Super Falcons the lead in the 62nd minute. The lead lasted only four minutes before Sanna Mssoudy equalized for the Atlas Lionesses.
The Super Falcons were largely reliant on Nnadozie, who made a number of spectacular saves to keep her team in the game.
Ifeoma Onumonu was the only player in the penalty shootout to miss, which allowed Morocco to advance to face South Africa in the final scheduled for Saturday, July 23rd. Nigeria will play the Copper Queens of Zambia in the third-place playoff on Friday, July 22nd.
