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As the countdown to the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco intensifies, fans across the continent and especially in Nigeria are bracing for another thrilling celebration of women’s football.
Africa’s premier women’s tournament has consistently delivered unforgettable moments, star-making performances, and intense rivalries. With powerhouses like Nigeria, South Africa, Morocco, and Zambia all vying for continental glory, the stage is set for another blockbuster edition.
While team success is paramount, WAFCON has also become a showcase for individual brilliance. This year, several players arrive in red-hot form, ready to make headlines. From seasoned captains to emerging talents, here are seven players expected to light up Morocco 2024.
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1. Rasheedat Ajibade (Nigeria)
With her blue-tinted hair and relentless energy, Rasheedat Ajibade has become the face of Nigeria’s Super Falcons. The 24-year-old forward who captains the team is not just leading by title, she is doing it with performances.
Fresh from a Spanish league season that saw her notch seven goals and three assists, Ajibade enters her third WAFCON full of confidence. A leader on and off the pitch, the former Atletico Madrid star is determined to guide the Super Falcons to a historic 10th continental title.
2. Barbra Banda (Zambia)
When it comes to explosive firepower, few in the African game can match Zambia’s Barbra Banda. The reigning CAF Women’s Player of the Year proved her class in the qualifiers, scoring four goals in just two games.
Pace, power, and poise in front of goal define Banda’s game, and her form for Orlando Pride eight goals in 13 NWSL matches shows she’s arriving in Morocco fresh with confidence. The BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year for 2024 is not just a contender; she’s a title-chaser.
3. Fatima Tagnaout (Morocco)
If Morocco are to dazzle on home soil, Fatima Tagnaout will likely be pulling the strings. The AS FAR star is known for her silky dribbling, pinpoint passes, and lethal left foot.
With over 50 caps and experience from both the 2022 CAF Champions League and the 2023 Women’s World Cup, Tagnaout will be central to Morocco’s ambitions. Her vision and creativity make her one of the tournament’s most elegant players to watch.
4. Racheal Kundananji (Zambia)
While Barbra Banda often grabs the headlines, Racheal Kundananji is an equally vital weapon for Zambia. Now with Bay FC in the NWSL, Kundananji club form may have been modest just one goal and two assists in 11 games — but her national team pedigree remains unquestioned.
Strong, fast, and relentless, she is expected to reignite her chemistry with Banda and drive the Copper Queens deep into the tournament.
5. Deborah Abiodun (Nigeria)
Young, bold, and fearless, Deborah Abiodun is a player fans can’t help but root for. Known for her strong tackles and commanding midfield presence, the Super Falcons’ starlet brings much-needed steel to Nigeria’s engine room.
Still in her teens, Abiodun has already shown the maturity of a veteran. Expect her to break up opposition play and launch Nigeria’s counterattacks with her power-packed runs and crisp distribution.
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6. Hildah Magaia (South Africa)
With star striker Thembi Kgatlana unavailable, the goalscoring burden for South Africa’s Bayana Bayana will fall on Hildah Magaia’s shoulders. And it’s a responsibility she’s ready for.
The Kansas City forward, currently on loan at Club Tijuana, has an impressive strike rate with 20 goals in 30 appearances. Her intelligent movement and sharp finishing could be South Africa’s X-factor in Morocco.
7. Merveille Kanjinga (DR Congo)
At just 21, Merveille Kanjinga is already a household name in DR Congo. The striker has emerged as one of the most promising exports from the nation, scoring six goals in nine appearances for PSG Ladies last season. Fearless and clinical in the box, Kanjinga carries the hopes of an entire nation. Morocco 2024 offers her the perfect platform to announce herself fully on the African stage.
The 2024 WAFCON promises not just team rivalries, but also a clash of individual brilliance. These seven stars and many more will battle for supremacy, pride, and history in Morocco. As the whistle blows on the opening game, keep your eyes on these players: they could be the ones writing the next glorious chapter in African women’s football.
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