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6 Days to Go Until the Women's AFCON: Perpetua Nkwocha, the Queen of Johannesburg
Published: Sunday, 29 June 2025
The countdown is on for the TotalEnergies CAF Women's Africa Cup of Nations, Morocco 2024. With just six days to go, we look back at one of the most iconic moments in the tournament's history: Perpetua Nkwocha's four-goal performance in the 2004 final against Cameroon (5-0), held in South Africa.
Only 6 days before the Women's Africa Cup of Nations kicks off
On October 3, 2004, in Johannesburg, African women's football witnessed a defining moment. In the final of the Women's AFCON, Perpetua Nkwocha delivered a sensational performance, scoring four goals against the Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon. That day, the Nigerian star didn't just shine — she ruled.
That South African tournament came amid Nigeria's already well-established dominance — the Super Falcons were three-time African champions heading into the edition. But 2004 marked a turning point: the coming of age of a generation led by a player like no other. Fast, accurate, and always in the right place, Nkwocha soared through the tournament, delivering standout performances. In the final, against an ambitious Cameroonian side, she imposed her will.
She opened the scoring early, calmly added a second, and went on to complete her haul with two more goals. On her own, she dismantled the opposing defence and led the Super Falcons to their fourth continental title.
With this historic four-goal haul, Perpetua Nkwocha became the first — and still the only — player to score four goals in a Women's AFCON final. A remarkable achievement that remains etched in the annals of African football.
And there's more. Across the tournament, she finished as top scorer with nine goals in five matches. Her impact was so great that she was rightly crowned CAF African Women's Player of the Year in 2004. She would go on to win the award again in 2005, 2010, and 2011 — further cementing her legendary status.
Twenty years later, her four-goal performance is still a benchmark. It embodies the excellence, clinical finishing, and leadership of an African football icon. As the focus now shifts to Morocco for the 2024 edition, Nkwocha's legacy reminds every player of what greatness demands: talent, of course, but also courage, consistency, and a sharp sense of timing.
With just 6 days to go, Nkwocha's memory continues to inspire. The 2024 Women's AFCON promises to be the stage for a new generation of stars. Who will be the next to leave their mark on history?
