'Let's do a rematch' – Super Falcons defender Plumptre eyes revenge against Morocco

As anticipation builds ahead of the 2024 Women's Africa Cup of Nations, talk in Nigeria continues to centre around 'Mission X'—the Super Falcons' ambitious push for a record-extending tenth continental title.

Beyond the pursuit of silverware, the Super Falcons are also seeking redemption against Morocco's Atlas Lionesses, who denied them a place in the 2022 final with a dramatic penalty shootout victory.

Defending champions South Africa, who also defeated Nigeria in the last edition, and Zambia, another side that got the better of the nine-time champions, are further reminders that the gap at the top has narrowed.

What was once a one-team dominance has now evolved into a fierce rivalry among the continent's elite.

South Africa, Morocco and Zambia have all emerged as serious contenders, transforming Wafcon into a much more competitive tournament. 

According to the knockout stage projections, the Super Falcons could come face to face with either Morocco or Zambia as early as the quarterfinal stage, depending on group stage outcomes.

Speaking ahead of the tournament, Nigeria international defender Ashleigh Plumptre acknowledged that Morocco remains one of the teams the Falcons are determined to beat at the Wafcon, and has called for a rematch of their dramatic 2022 semifinal clash.

"I'm speaking on behalf of myself, I know other people feel like this. I just really want to play Morocco again. I want to be in that environment, some of us have spoken about it," Plumptre said On The Whistle Podcast.

"I loved it when we ran onto the field and there were 50,000 Moroccans booing us—it made me laugh."

Plumptre recalled the Super Falcons' resilience despite the numerical disadvantage and noted that the players still feel hard done by.

"I remember that game, we went down to nine players, this said a lot about the team. I feel like this because of the group of girls I am around.

"I still believed we could win in normal time with nine players and that's not saying we can beat anyone. It's a belief we will be okay and then we hit the crossbar.

"I would really like to play them again because I think that was really unfair, we all felt hard done by about that game, so it would be nice to play that game again.

"Obviously, they've probably got a little bit of a different team right now, actually majority it's the same. Based on what happened to us the last time, I want to play them in Morocco. Let's do a rematch."

The Super Falcons will kick off their group stage campaign against Tunisia on Sunday evening at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

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