“I Don’t Deserve It,” Says Ajibade
Despite scoring Nigeria’s opening goal and playing a pivotal role in the match, Ajibade was overcome with emotion after receiving the Man of the Match award — her third consecutive accolade in the tournament.
Speaking after the game, the 24-year-old forward said:
“I don’t deserve it, to be honest. But God’s grace found me.
And all of these Man of the Match awards, I dedicate them to my teammates.
This is teamwork. It is not about me carrying this trophy today. It’s all about the team effort.”
Her emotional reaction underlined the pressure, sacrifice, and unity driving Nigeria's WAFCON campaign.
How It Unfolded
The tense semi-final clash saw Ajibade open the scoring from the penalty spot, before South Africa equalised through Linda Motlhalo, also from the spot.
With extra time looming, Michelle Alozie’s deep cross in the 94th minute caught South African goalkeeper Andile Dlamini off guard, sealing a dramatic late winner for the Super Falcons.
Falcons March Into the Final
With the win, Nigeria advance to the WAFCON final for the first time since 2018, where they will face the winner between Morocco and Ghana.
South Africa, the reigning champions from 2022, bow out despite a spirited performance, while Ajibade’s consistent brilliance and humility continue to shine as one of Nigeria’s standout stories of the tournament.