The 2024 Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) saw Nigeria lift their tenth continental title, and a significant reason for their success was the exceptional performance of Esther Okoronkwo. The AFC Toronto forward proved to be a talisman for the Super Falcons throughout the tournament, consistently delivering crucial contributions when it mattered most.
Okoronkwo's impact was evident from Nigeria's opening match against Tunisia, where she was named Woman of the Match despite coming on as a second-half substitute. Her introduction injected urgency and control into the Super Falcons' attack, creating two key chances and providing an assist in the 3-0 victory.
Her stellar form continued into the knockout stages. In the quarter-finals, Okoronkwo was instrumental in Nigeria's dominant 5-0 victory over Zambia, scoring one goal and providing two assists.
However, it was in the dramatic final against hosts Morocco that Okoronkwo truly shone. With Nigeria trailing 2-0 at halftime, she spearheaded a remarkable comeback. She calmly converted a penalty in the 64th minute to begin the resurgence, then turned provider seven minutes later to set up Folashade Ijamilusi for the equalizer. Her influence was capped off in the 88th minute when she delivered the free-kick that Jennifer Echegini converted for the winning goal, securing the 3-2 victory and the WAFCON trophy. For her heroic performance in the final, Okoronkwo was deservedly named the TotalEnergies Woman of the Match.
Overall, Esther Okoronkwo concluded the 2024 WAFCON with an impressive tally of two goals and six assists, making her a key figure in Nigeria's historic tenth WAFCON title. Her ability to score, create, and inspire her teammates proved vital to the Super Falcons' success throughout the tournament.
