by

Eniola Olatunji

The Super Falcons of Nigeria Tuesday night at the Lotes Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria dazed the Bayana Bayana (Girls) of South Africa with a scintillating goalless draw to earn the ticket to her 4th appearance at the Paris Olympic Games. 

Nigeria’s first leg win got her the ticket to Paris at a period the world was waiting for South Africa to turn the table.

Unbelievable the record that South African women never beat the Nigerian women on home ground was upheld and as the Tunisian Referee, Dorsaf Ganouati blew the last whistle of the match, the entire South Africans both male and female began a lamentation.

It was a day the South African attack led by no 11 shirt, Thembi Kgatlana was blunt giving African Goalkeeper of the Year, Cecilia Nnadozie great opportunity to shine as she seized the ball at will from the less hungry attackers.

Kanu who wasted many chances in the first leg was not tolerated by the Nigerian coach who pulled her out promptly but never from the second time fielded African woman Player of the Year, Asezat Oshola.

Nigeria failed to connect beautiful passes sent into the 18 year box of South Africa most especially by Raseedat Ajibade.

Dimunitive Publisher, Kunle Solaja of VillageSportsSquare had reported that an 8 year old jinx of no victory over South Africa was broken in Abuja at the 1st leg with the 1-0 win scored by Captain Rasheedat Ajibade known as Baby Rash or Mummy G. O. because of her frequent Christian Gospel publication on Face Book.

South African Captain alleged that Nigeria used dirty tricks in Abuja by not cut the grass at the Moshood Abiola Stadium which did not allow for free movement of Players and the ball. “The ball could not bounce and we were demobilized. We will play them back in Pretoria”.

It is on record that South Africa never defeated Nigeria on their home ground. Sedara Philip of Sportsgister gave a precise record of their meetings. According to him, since 10th March 1995 when the Falcons humiliated Bayana before their home crowd 7-1 in Jo’Borg; 24 previous meetings had taken place with 7 played in South Africa; Nigeria won 15 matches with 5 ending in draws. One of the draws was the final on the 11th WAFCON which Nigeria won on penalties 4-3 in Accra.

Philip also wrote that South Africa four wins have been in Bata Guinea (1-0 2012 WAFCON); Cape Coast Ghana (1-0 2018 WAFCON); Lagos Nigeria (4-2 Aisha Buhari Cup) and Rabat Morocco (2-1 2022 WAFCON Final). Of the seven encounters played in South Africa, Nigeria won 5 drawing 2.  

Nigeria is currently ranked 36th in the world while South Africa is ranked 51st but both countries reached the last 16 of the Women’s world cup staged in Australia and New Zealand. 

Nigeria’s last six matches were 1-0 over South in the 1st leg; 31st October 2023 Nigeria 4 Ethiopia 0 in Olympic qualifier; on 30th November 2023 Nigeria walloped Cape Verde 5-0 in WAFCON qualifier; on 8th December 2023 Nigeria beat Cape Verde 2-1 on their home ground; then Cameroon played goalless in first leg of Olympic qualifier on 23rd February 2024 before Nigeria piped the Cameroonian by a lone goal in Abuja for the 2nd leg on 26th February 2024.

South Africa lost 0-1 to Nigeria in the 1st leg; drowned DR Congo 2-0 in Olympic qualifier on 30th October 2023; played Burkina Faso Babes 1-1 in first leg of WAFCON qualifier and pushed the Burkina Babes out in the 2nd leg 2-0 on 4th December 2023; Taifa Stars of Tanzania ladies came up for Olympic qualifiers with 0-3 bashing on home grounds on 23rd February 2024 before South Africa just threw dust in their eyes 1-0 in the 2nd leg in JO’Borg on 27th February 2024.

South Africa is seeking a 3rd appearance at the Olympics in 2012 and 2016 with both ending at group stages but Nigeria already has three appearances in 2000; 2004 and 2008. Nigeria reached the quarterfinals in 2004 when she on 20th August 2004 lost to Germany 2-1 in Patres, Greece. Germany that year lost to USA 2-1 in the Semifinal and USA won the Gold beating Brazil 2-1 in the final.

Winner between Super Falcons of Nigeria and Bayana Bayana (Girls) of South Africa will be in Group C of the women’s final in Paris with Spain; Japan and Brazil.