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Toni Payne has described Nigeria’s historic 10th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations triumph as one of the most memorable moments of her career, revealing that the victory carried even greater significance because it marked the first major international trophy for many members of the Super Falcons squad.
The Super Falcons midfielder reflected on the emotions surrounding Nigeria’s record-extending continental success, noting that a significant number of players were experiencing the demanding environment of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations for the very first time. For those debutants, the journey ended in the best possible fashion as they lifted the coveted trophy and celebrated their maiden continental title in Nigeria’s famous green and white colours.
Nigeria’s triumph was more than just another championship. It was a statement of resilience, dominance, and renewal, as the Super Falcons reclaimed the African crown to secure an unprecedented 10th WAFCON title, further cementing their place as the undisputed queens of women’s football on the continent.
Looking back on the remarkable achievement in a recent video interview credited to FIFPRO, Payne said the team’s triumph meant so much because many of the players had never before experienced the joy of winning a major title with the national team.
“Winning for that 10th time with that team, it was such a huge accomplishment for us. A lot of us, that was our first tournament, the first WAFCON. It was our first trophy, and it just meant so much to everyone in the team,” Payne said.
Payne, who expressed her immense pride in representing the Super Falcons on the international stage, also acknowledged the rapidly growing quality of women’s football across Africa. She noted that the rising standard of the game continent-wide made their historic victory even more hard-fought and rewarding, proving that Nigeria remains at the pinnacle of the sport despite the ever-increasing competition.
