Nigeria’s Super Falcons have won the African Women Cup of Nations (AWCON) for the ninth time after beating South Africa’s Bayana Bayana 4-3 on penalties.
Both teams failed to convert their scoring chances, then entered extra time play before settling for penalities.
Nigeria had the chance to take the lead in the 75th minute after winger Francisca Ordega was fouled in the box by Bayana Bayana goalkeeper, Kaylin Swart. Striker Asisat Oshoala stepped up to take the resultant penalty, which she sent wide.
The game went into extra time as neither team scored a goal in regulation time. Both teams battled hard for the victory but goal-scoring chances were few and far in between.
Nigeria won the first five editions (1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006) in the competition before they were dislodged in the semi-finals by hosts, Equatorial Guinea in their sixth attempt (2008), who went on to defeat South Africa 2-1 in the finals.
The Falcons won the last two editions – 2014 and 2016 – defeating Cameroon on both occasions in the final.
