The 2018 Women's Africa Cup of Nations final was a football match at the Accra Sports Stadium in Accra, Ghana which determined the winner of the 2018 Women's Africa Cup of Nations. The final was contested between Nigeria and South Africa.

This was the second time in the tournament that Nigeria and South Africa had met in a final, with Nigeria having won 2–0 in 2000.

Following a 0–0 draw after extra time, Nigeria won 4–3 in a penalty shoot-out for their third consecutive and a record-extending 9th overall Africa Women Cup of Nations title. The 2018 final was the first Women's African Cup of Nations final to be decided on penalties.

Background Nigeria had previously won the competition a record eight times (in 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2016) and were the two-time defending champions. Nigeria had played in eight finals and won all.

The match also marked South Africa's fourth appearance in a Women's Afcon Cup final, having finished as runners-up in all previous three.

Prior to the final, the two sides had met in the group stage of the 2018 Women's Africa Cup of Nations. Their encounter ended in a 1–0 win for South Africa.

Route to the final

Nigeria and South Africa were both part of Group B in the group stage. The first game was against each other, South Africa were able to defeat the Nigerians 1–0 through a late Thembi Kgatlana goal in the 85th minute. South Africa finished as group leaders and faced second-placers Mali in the semifinal while Nigeria had to play against Cameroon, the Group A leaders.

In the first semi-final at Accra Sports Stadium in Accra, Nigeria faced Cameroon in a tightly contested match that ended 0–0 after 120 minutes. Nigeria advanced to the final with a 4–2 victory in the penalty shootout, where goalkeeper Tochukwu Oluehi saved two penalties to secured a berth at the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup. South Africa won over Mali in the other semifinal at Cape Coast Sports Stadium in Cape Coast. South Africa secured a 2–0 win, with Kgatlana opening the scoring in the 31st minute after capitalizing on a defensive error. A late goal in the 80th minute from Lebohang Ramalepe then sealed the victory.

RoundOpponentResultGroup stageOpponentResult0–1Match 11–04–0Match 27–16–0Match 31–1Group B Runner-upsFinal standingsGroup B WinnersOpponentResultKnockout stageOpponentResult0–0 (4–2 p)Semi-finals2–0

Match In the second half, Nigeria had a chance to score when they were awarded a penalty after Goalkeeper Kaylin Swart fouled Francisca Ordega in the penalty box at the 76th minute, but Asisat Oshoala failed to convert, putting the penalty wide.

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GK 1Tochukwu OluehiDF 6Josephine ChukwunonyeCB 5 Onome Ebi CB 3 Osinachi OhaleLB 4Ngozi Ebere MF 18 Halimatu AyindeAM 10Rita Chikwelu (c) CM 13 Ngozi OkobiFW 17 Francisca Ordega CF 8Asisat OshoalaFW 15 Rasheedat Ajibade Substitutes:FW 19Chinwendu Ihezuo FW 11Chinaza Uchendu GK 16 Chiamaka NnadozieGK 21Christy OhiaeriakuDF 2 Glory OgbonnaMF 12Amarachi OkoronkwoFW 9 Desire OparanozieManager: Thomas Dennerby GK 20 Kaylin Swart RB 2 Lebohang Ramalepe CB 5 Janine van Wyk (c)DF 13Bambanani Mbane DF 3 Nothando Vilakazi MF 17Leandra Smeda MF 6Mamello MakhabaneRW 10 Linda MotlhaloFW 21Busisiwe Ndimeni FW 12Jermaine Seoposenwe FW 9Thembi KgatlanaSubstitutes:DF 4Noko Matlou MF 18Mpumi Nyandeni GK 16Andile DlaminiGK 1Roxanne BarkerDF 2 Caitlin CooperDF 7 Koketso TlailaneMF 8Kgalebane MohlakoanaManager: Desiree Ellis

Statistics Statistic Nigeria South Africa Goals scored 0 0 Total shots 18 10 Shots on target 3 6 Ball possession 52% 48% Corner kicks 5 9 Fouls committed 18 8 Offsides 4 1 Yellow cards 3 2 Red cards 0 0

Aftermath Nigeria won their record-extending ninth Women's Africa Cup of Nations title after suffering a surprise 1-0 group-stage defeat to South Africa earlier in the tournament. Nigeria's win also marks the second time a national team won the continental title three times consecutively, a feat last done Nigeria themselves, who emerged champions five consecutive times in the 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004 and 2006 editions. It was also the first title won by Nigeria women's team under the tutelage of Swedish manager, Thomas Dennerby.

References

External links

Total Women's Africa Cup Of Nations, CAFonline.com