Wafcon 2024: Nigeria winner memorable for Jennifer Echegini

Nigeria had dubbed their campaign as ‘Mission X’, and President Bola Tinubu sent his congratulations to the squad in a video call after the match.

He hailed the side’s “spectacular” performance as one that exemplifies the “determination that defines the Nigerian spirit”.

“You have lifted our spirits. You are a pride to your generation,” Tinubu told the team.

“You have achieved the mission the nation dreamed of and prayed for. Nigeria celebrates you.”

Okoronkwo, who ended the tournament with two goals and six assists, said Nigeria’s approach had been “all or nothing” after the break.

“We knew we had to come up [with a] different strategy. We knew we needed to fight,” the forward said.

“We talked over it in the locker room [and said] we have to change the way we are playing. It just shows resilience in us.”

Former Super Falcon Desire Oparanozie, herself a four-time Wafcon winner, said her compatriots showed “the mentality of a champion”.

“I did not expect them to come back in that manner,” she told BBC Sport Africa.

“I think the motivation for them would have been: ‘This cannot be the first time we’ll lose in a final’.

“Nigeria have been in the final 10 times and they’ve won all 10 times. That mental toughness and fight is something else.”