CAF honours Super Falcons’ historic 28-goal feat at 1998 WAFCON

By Olaolu Joseph –

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has celebrated the record goal-scoring feat of Nigeria’s Super Falcons in a single edition of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).

Apart from recognizing the rich credentials of the Falcons—being the most consistent and most successful team, having won the championship nine times—CAF has honoured the Nigerian women’s national team for the most goals scored in a single edition of WAFCON, a feat they achieved in 1998 when they scored 28 goals.

The tribute, highlighted in a colourful visual and nostalgic campaign by CAF ahead of the upcoming 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, has reignited memories of a team that not only dominated their opponents but redefined what was possible in women’s football on the continent.

From the very first whistle in the 1998 tourney, held in Warri, Delta State, Nigeria, the Nigerian side showcased a lethal combination of pace, power, precision, and tactical brilliance. Match after match, they demolished their opponents with scorelines that seemed almost implausible.

The likes of gangling striker Mercy Akide, skipper Florence Omagbemi, winger Nkiru Okosieme, and agile goalkeeper Ann Chiejine led a team brimming with talent and confidence, dispatching rivals with ease. Their goal-scoring spree culminated in a final performance that sealed their dominance and left no doubts about their supremacy on African soil.

Scoring 28 goals in a single tournament was no small feat. It was a statement of intent, a demonstration of technical superiority, and a reflection of Nigeria’s longstanding investment in women’s football.

Decades later, no other team has come close to matching that record in a single edition of WAFCON. It is a testament to the fearsome quality of the Super Falcons’ class of 1998, a squad that, for many, remains one of the finest African women’s football teams ever assembled.

CAF’s recent commemoration of this achievement acknowledges not just the number, but the enduring impact of that team on African football history.

The 1998 results

17th October 1998
Nigeria 8–0 Morocco

20th October 1998
Nigeria 6–0 DR Congo

23rd October 1998
Nigeria 6–0 Egypt

27th October 1998 (Semi-Final)
Nigeria 6–0 Cameroon

31st October 1998 (Final)
Nigeria 2–0 Ghana