The Super Falcons of Nigeria achieved a historic milestone, clinching their record-extending 10th Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title. This monumental victory, dubbed 'Mission X,' saw the Nigerian team mount a thrilling 3-2 comeback against host nation Morocco in the final match held at the Stade Olympique in Rabat.

The final was a dramatic affair, with Morocco taking an early lead. Ghiziane Chebbak opened the scoring in the 13th minute, followed by Sanaa Mssoudy in the 24th minute, giving Morocco a comfortable two-goal cushion at halftime. However, the Super Falcons, under the guidance of head coach Justin Madugu, orchestrated a remarkable second-half resurgence. Key substitutions, including the introduction of Rinsola Babajide, Jennifer Echegini, and five-time CAF Player of the Year Asisat Oshoala, injected speed and potency into their attack. Esther Okoronkwo was instrumental in the comeback, first converting a penalty in the 64th minute to pull one back, then assisting Folashade Ijamilusi for the equalizer in the 71st minute. Okoronkwo’s stellar performance continued as she set up Jennifer Echegini for the match-winning goal in the 88th minute, sealing the 3-2 victory and the championship.

The triumph was met with widespread jubilation across Nigeria. Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu quickly joined the celebration, congratulating the Super Falcons in a social media post. He praised their incredible performance as a reminder of what can be achieved when talent, discipline, and belief converge, proclaiming it a "flawless 10 out of 10 performance." Similarly, First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu, CON, extended heartfelt congratulations, applauding the team's resilience and calling their victory a testament to their hard work, consistency, and the indomitable Nigerian spirit. She hailed them as "Queens of African football" and ambassadors of Nigerian excellence.

Amidst the celebrations, Super Falcons defender Michelle Alozie garnered attention for her witty post-match troll aimed at Moroccan supporters. During the tense final, Moroccan fans controversially used laser lights, notably targeting Nigerian players like Esther Okoronkwo. Alozie, a Yale graduate in molecular biology who balanced football with pediatric cancer research before becoming a defensive mainstay for Houston Dash and a key player for Nigeria (scoring a decisive goal in the WAFCON triumph), took to Snapchat to mock their efforts, posting a video of herself and Okoronkwo celebrating with the caption: “Their lasers didn’t work.” Her confident and playful message perfectly encapsulated the team’s unshakable composure despite the hostile atmosphere. Legendary striker Asisat Oshoala also took to social media to express her gratitude, crediting teammates Oluwatosin Demehin and Deborah Abiodun for their crucial roles in her WAFCON journey.

Beyond the pitch, the Super Falcons' victory ignited a debate over FIFA’s women’s national team ranking system. Football analyst and Pulse Sports Nigeria’s managing editor, Joba, challenged FIFA to revamp its methodology. Despite their dominant performance and historic 10th WAFCON title, Nigeria remained ranked 36th globally (though still Africa's top team) in the March 2025 FIFA Women’s World Rankings. Joba argued on X (formerly Twitter) that there aren't 35 teams better than the Super Falcons, suggesting the current Elo rating-based system, which emphasizes long history and weighted recent performance, inadequately rewards breakthrough achievements and regional dominance. As Nigeria basks in the success of 'Mission X,' the call for ranking reform continues ahead of the next FIFA ranking release scheduled for early August 2025.