WAFCON
Nigeria’s Deborah Abiodun Headlines Rising Stars Set to Light Up WAFCON 2024
As the countdown begins to the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) Morocco 2024, a new generation of young talents is preparing to take centre stage. Among them, Nigeria’s dynamic midfielder Deborah Abiodun stands out as one of five rising stars tipped to set the tournament ablaze, with energy, skill, and ambition.
Though still only 21, Abiodun is no stranger to the international spotlight.
Nicknamed “Kanté” for her tireless work rate and all-action midfield style, the Dallas Trinity FC player is quickly becoming a cornerstone of the Super Falcons.
First selected for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup by then-coach Randy Waldrum, her recall by current head coach Justin Madugu for this year’s WAFCON underscores her growing influence in a traditionally experienced Nigerian squad.
A product of the Rivers Angels’ tough, physical footballing school, Abiodun brings more than just energy.
Her ability to anticipate play, direct tempo, and distribute with precision makes her central to Nigeria’s ambitions.
At WAFCON 2024, she will be tasked with breaking down opposition attacks and launching quick transitions—responsibilities she embraces with youthful confidence and composure.
Joining Abiodun in the spotlight are four other young talents from across the continent, each determined to make their mark on the biggest stage for women’s football in Africa.
Comfort Yeboah (18, Defender, Ampem Darkoa – Ghana)
At just 18, Yeboah has already shown the makings of a seasoned leader.
Unveiled during the 2023 CAF Women’s Champions League, she impressed as a commanding presence in Ampem Darkoa’s backline.
Equally comfortable defending and initiating play, her ability to take penalties under pressure highlights her calmness and leadership qualities.
In a youthful and ambitious Ghanaian squad, Yeboah could prove to be the defensive lynchpin.
Jessica Modise (19, Forward, Gaborone United – Botswana)
Fast, fearless, and fiercely intelligent on the ball, Modise has emerged as the face of Botswana’s new footballing generation.
With five goals in the WAFCON qualifiers, she’s already shown her ability to lead from the front. Her hybrid role as both scorer and creator makes her one of the tournament’s most unpredictable threats.
Salma Marzouki (17, Midfielder, Banque de l’Habitat – Tunisia)
Though still a teenager, Marzouki is Tunisia’s midfield metronome.
Whether anchoring the midfield or linking up play, her calm demeanour and long-range shooting ability set her apart.
With maturity beyond her years, she will be central to Tunisia’s push to make history at this edition of the tournament.
Ruth Bulala Nossa (21, Midfielder, Sarcelles – DR Congo)
Described as one of the tournament’s best-kept secrets, Nossa was discovered by DR Congo coach Hervé Happy during international scouting efforts.
Now plying her trade in France, she combines tactical intelligence with physical prowess.
Her vision and game control could be decisive in tight contests, especially for a DR Congo side hoping to surprise the continent.
As these five rising stars prepare to step into the spotlight in Morocco, all eyes will be on how they handle the pressure—and perhaps redefine the future of women’s football on the continent. For Nigeria’s Abiodun and her fellow young guns, WAFCON 2024 isn’t just a tournament—it’s an opportunity to lead a generational shift.
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Perennial favourites Nigeria will kick off their 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) campaign on Sunday with a Group B showdown against Tunisia at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca.
The highly anticipated fixture is scheduled for 5pm Nigerian time.
This encounter marks only the second time the Super Falcons will face Tunisia at WAFCON. Their first meeting was at the 2008 edition in Equatorial Guinea, where both sides played out a goalless draw in a Group B clash in Bata.
Back then, Nigeria had drawn 1-1 with Ghana in their opener, while Tunisia fell 2-1 to South Africa. Nigeria eventually advanced to the knockout stage as group runners-up, while Tunisia finished bottom of the group.
The Super Falcons have a dominant record against North African opposition in WAFCON history, remaining unbeaten in open play across six matches (four wins, two draws).
Their only loss came via penalties to hosts Morocco in the semi-finals of the 2022 edition, after a 1-1 draw in regulation time.
This year’s opener marks the third time Nigeria will begin a WAFCON campaign against a North African team.
They previously opened with emphatic victories—an 8-0 rout of Morocco and 4-0 wins over Algeria, in the 1998 and 2004 editions.
Overall, Nigeria have netted 25 goals and conceded just once in six WAFCON matches against North African opponents. They kept clean sheets in each of their first five such games before conceding against Morocco in 2022.
For Tunisia, Sunday’s match will be their fifth against West African opposition at WAFCON. Their record stands at one win, two draws, and one loss. Notably, they drew 0-0 with Nigeria and lost 3-2 to Ghana in the 2008 group stage.
More recently, they defeated Togo 4-1 in 2022 and held Senegal to a goalless draw in a 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup intercontinental playoff, before losing on penalties.
As both teams look to start strong in a competitive Group B, history favours Nigeria, but Tunisia will be eager to upset the script and make a statement in Casablanca.
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Hosts Morocco will launch the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) with a highly anticipated Group A clash against Zambia on Saturday night at the Olympic Stadium in Rabat. Kick-off is set for 21:00 local time (20:00 GMT), with the Atlas Lionesses looking to maintain the strong tradition of hosts making winning starts.
History is firmly on Morocco’s side. In the 12 previous editions of WAFCON, host nations have won their opening match on 11 occasions. The lone exception came in 2004, when South Africa fell 3-0 to Ghana in Johannesburg. Since then, hosts have built a formidable record: the last eight have all kicked off their campaigns with victories.
Clean sheets are also common for home teams in tournament openers. Nine of the 12 hosts shut out their opponents in their first match. The only hosts to concede were Nigeria (4-2 vs Equatorial Guinea in 2006), and South Africa in their 2004 loss and 2010 win (2-1 vs Tanzania). Nigeria holds the record for the most dominant opening win by a host, hammering Morocco 8-0 in 1998.
Morocco will look to build on their impressive run in the 2022 edition, also hosted on home soil, where they reached the final for the first time before narrowly losing 2-1 to South Africa. With the same stadium and strong home support behind them, the Atlas Lionesses are aiming for another deep run—and a winning start is key.
Zambia, however, are no pushovers. The Copper Queens finished third in 2022 and boast firepower in the likes of Barbara Banda and Racheal Kundananji. Their rise has been one of African football’s most compelling stories, and they’ll be eager to spoil the hosts’ party.
While Morocco will draw on history and home advantage, Zambia bring momentum and ambition. A historic opener awaits, with both teams eager to make a bold statement at WAFCON 2024.
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With a purse of $3,475,000, the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) kicks off with a historic opening match as hosts Morocco take on Zambia in what will be the first-ever meeting between the two sides at the continental tournament.
Both nations impressed in the previous edition in 2022, also hosted by Morocco. The Atlas Lionesses reached the final for the first time, eventually finishing runners-up to South Africa, while Zambia’s Copper Queens claimed their first-ever bronze medal after edging Nigeria in the third-place playoff.
This clash brings together two of Africa’s rising forces in women’s football, with Morocco aiming to build on their breakthrough success on home soil, and Zambia seeking to continue their upward trajectory following their strong World Cup qualification and Olympic pedigree.
It will be Morocco’s third encounter with a Southern African opponent at WAFCON. In 2022, they defeated Botswana 2-1 in the quarterfinals before narrowly losing 2-1 to South Africa in the final. For Zambia, this marks their second meeting with a host nation at the tournament, having lost 2-0 to Namibia during the group stage in 2014.
Zambia will also be facing North African opposition for only the second time at WAFCON. Their first such meeting came in 2022, when they defeated Tunisia 1-0 in the group stage—a result that demonstrated their growing tactical maturity on the continental stage.
Morocco will enjoy familiar surroundings once again, playing all their group-stage matches in Rabat as they did in 2022. Their games will take place at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, near the Rabat Olympic Stadium. Zambia, meanwhile, played only once in Rabat during the last tournament—a commanding 4-1 win over Togo at Stade Moulay Hassan—before playing the remainder of their matches in Casablanca.
Adding another intriguing layer to the fixture is the touchline reunion between the two head coaches. Morocco’s Jorge Vilda and Zambia’s Nora Häuptle previously faced off at the 2018 UEFA Women’s U-19 Championship, when Vilda’s Spain defeated Häuptle’s Switzerland 2-0 en route to winning the tournament.
With both teams boasting strong recent records and ambitious goals, this opening match promises to set the tone for an exciting WAFCON 2024.
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