Super Falcons forward Rasheedat Ajibade has humbly stated that she did not feel deserving of the Man of the Match award following Nigeria’s 2-1 victory over South Africa in the semi-finals of the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).
Ajibade, who has now claimed the individual accolade for the third consecutive match, was visibly emotional as she broke down in tears during the post-match ceremony. She dedicated the award to her teammates and credited her consistent performances to divine grace.
The Atlético Madrid star gave Nigeria the lead by converting a first-half penalty, only for Linda Motlhalo to equalize for South Africa with a spot-kick of her own midway through the second half.
The Super Falcons ultimately clinched the win in dramatic fashion when a deep cross from Michelle Alozie in the 94th minute sailed past goalkeeper Andile Dlamini, sending Nigeria into the final against host nation Morocco.
Reacting to her award, Ajibade 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.”
