Payne, Nigeria Win Africa Cup of Nations Championship

Photo by: Confédération Africaine de Football

Payne, Nigeria Win Africa Cup of Nations Championship

7/27/2025 8:13:00 PM | Women's Soccer

RABAT, Morocco – Duke women's soccer alumna Toni Payne helped lead her home country of Nigeria to the Women's Africa Cup of Nations title, which marked the 10th championship for Nigeria.

In the championship match against host Morocco, Payne and her Nigeria squad scored three unanswered goals to come-from-behind to win, 3-2.

Nigeria opened the action in group stage by defeating Tunisia, 3-0, and then posted a 1-0 win over Botswana. To close group stage, Nigeria drew, 0-0, with Algeria. In the opening round of the knockout stage, Nigeria totaled a 5-0 victory over Zambia and then notched a 2-1 win over South Africa in the semifinals.

With the championship, Nigeria earned $1,000,000 in prize money.

Payne is a 2017 Duke graduate and helped lead the Blue Devils to the 2015 NCAA College Cup.

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