BY ENIOLA OLATUNJI
.
The Super Falcons of Nigeria on Tuesday in Casablanca, Morocco brought down the mouthful Banyana Banyana of South Africa 2-1 to stand a graceful chance of clinching an historic 10th African women football title.
.
Captain Rasheedat Ajibade popularly called ‘Mummy G. O.’ for her Christian preaching styles, stepped forward at the 45th minute to score from the penalty spot the opening goal of the tensed encounter after a South African defender touched the ball in the box.
.
The officials did not hesitate to give it to Nigeria. 33 year old, Ref. Shamirah Nabada who started her Ref career in 2015 had passed out of Masaka Secondary School (not the famous Masaka of Nasarawa State, Nigeria) in Central Area of Uganda. She was assisted by Fanta Idrissa Kone from Mali and the Logistics Graduate from Mauritania, Mariem Chedad who kept waving her flag for a foul.
.
Nigeria’s Defender, Osinachi Ohale however committed a defensive blunder that gave South Africa a penalty advantage which was duly converted for equalizer goal at the 60th minutes by Linda Motlhhala. Nigeria’s Golden Gloves hopeful, Chiamaka Nnadozie went the opposite side.
.
That goal erased the myth of clean slate in four consecutive matches at the tournament. The first goal to be conceded by Nigeria.
.
Just as the fans were waiting for penalty shootouts in the match, German Machine, Esther Okoronkwo floated a cross pass into the South African box for overlapping defender, Doctoral Student in America, Mitchell Alozie to slot in but the South African goalkeeper was actually targeting Deborah Abiodun whose shadow created the confusion that pushed the mouthful Banyana Banyana down to try the Bronze medal. Alozie was the brilliant Defender roughly stampede upon by a British player who escaped FIFA ban by profusely apologising to the Nigerian and Africa at the 2023 Female World cup.
.
That was the 12th semifinal showing of South Africa stopped now at that stage for the 6th time; played grand finale 6 times but won the title only once.
.
One has almost lost count how many times the two countries met. Nigeria won 4-0 on 31st January 2004 won 2-0 on 1st June 2008; won by a lone goal on 6th September 2008; won again 3-1 on 19th January 2014; played goalless on 10th September 2014 and 2-2 on 19th November 2014.
.
The first time South Africa beat Nigeria was on 10th June 2017 in a WAFCON duel that ended 2-0; the two teams played 1-1 on 17th November 2018 and on 6th December 2018 it was goalless. Only one match was played on 10th July 2019 which Nigeria won 2-1.
.
South Africa upgraded beating Nigeria 4-2 on 26th September 2021 which was their highest victory; She beat Nigeria again 2-1; on 7th February 20024 it was 1-1 at full time before Nigeria won 4-2 on penalties; on 4th January 2022; on 6th April 2024 Nigeria piped South Africa by a lone goal the only world cup match.
.
Nigeria had walloped Tunisia 3-0; beaten Botswana by a lone goal; played goalless with Algeria at the group stages before upsetting Zambia with a whopping 5-0 victory in the quarterfinals which is the highest scored by a team in a match.
.
South Africa had beaten Ghana 2-0; played 1-1 with 10 women players of Tanzania; and drubbed Mali 4-0 at the group stages before sending out Senegal 4-1 on penalties after a goalless full time in the quarterfinals.
.
South Africa rated 54 in the world had two appearances at the world cup and their best was a round of 16 in 2023. She won the WAFCON title in 2022; picked Silver 5 times in 1995; 2000; 2008; 2012 and 2018; won Bronze thrice in 2006; 2010 and 2016; placed 4th in 2004; 2014 and 2016.
.
Nigeria won the title an astonishing 9 times of which no African team has gone near. The wins were in 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006 (five consecutive times); 2010, 2014 2016 and 2018. Nigeria reached semifinal in all their 12 previous appearances finishing 3rd in 2001 and placed 4th in 2012 and 2022.
.
Other champions were Equatorial Guinea that won three times and South Africa once. Nigeria and South Africa are the only two nations to have qualified for all the 12 tournaments since 1998.
.
The Morocco versus Ghana match in the 2nd semifinal to be played tonight.
.
The 3rd place match is on Friday 25th July at 8pm which will be south Africa versus losers of Morocco/Ghana match. The Finals will hold in Rabat on Saturday 26th July at 9pm. Super Falcons are waiting for that.
.
Morocco will host the 16th edition of WAFCON in March 2026 which will be their 3rd consecutive advantage of hosting African women.
.
Eniola Olatunji reporting for Patmos Media Line.
#CAF #WAFCON24 #NFF
#MFA #SAFA #GFA
Comment here