By
Eniola Olatunji 

When President Winston Churchill came back from inspecting the French soldiers at the Second World War, he told the French people, the news from the war was bad.

Patmos media line learnt from the Super Falcons camp in Casablanca, Morocco that six times African Woman Player of the Year, 30 year old, Asisat Lamina Oshoala is hanging her boots not playing international football henceforth. 

Oshoala who was Africa’s best in 2014; 2016; 2017; 2019; 2022 and 2023 according to our sources will however do that after the 2026 WAFCON tournament still to take place in Morocco.

She only started a game once in this tournament at the opening match when she got a goal against Tunisia in the Group B opening match; was a substitute and benched twice. It is not clear whether her decision has to do with her alleged attitude when she was substituted against Tunisia as she was said to have avoided both players and officials.

“Oshoala had skill, tenacity and her trailblazing achievements have inspired a generation of young African talents, proving that greatness know no limits”, said a source in Casablanca. 

However, the Super Falcons are meeting the Banyana Banyana in of South Africa in the 1st Semifinal of WAFCON Tuesday at 5pm in Casablanca which promises to be another classic match while Black Queens of Ghana will face hosts Morocco in the 2nd semifinal in Rabat at 8pm.  

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 encounter of 7th June 2024 ended 1-1.

The Banyana Banyana Coach, Desiree Ellis who has been in charge for a long time, said she’s confident of victory over Nigeria for “we know how to beat them”. Speaking at a CAF forum, she said” we know what this match means. We know what it takes to beat Nigeria”.

Football pundits however hissed at her statements saying Zambia said  more than that and got 5-0 annihilation from the Super Falcons stressing that she better concentrate on tactics instead on verbal war that does not profit a team.

Nigerian players are in high spirit waiting for a lap of honor when they defeat South Africa to appear for a royal battle for their 10th title of the tournament more so their kits arrived Morocco on Monday after weeks of diplomatic delay.

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 promises to be thrilling but Ghana will need to watch it in their vital area as Morocco had scored at least a penalty in each four matches she has played.

North African teams love to intimidate Refs asking for penalties; has propensity to fall down like over ripe pawpaw anytime there is a contact anywhere on the pitch and they would hold the game for the Ref to award them a free kick or even penalty. That is why North African national teams or clubs do not do well at world cup level.

Ghana is a highly physical side who does what Nigerians call jam body, as in Rugby, to weaken their opponents which might count against the team when done in their penalty box.

The Rabat Stadium will erupt in high decibel vociferous sound of “ALLAH AKBAR” and turning the field to a Moslem worship center, if Morocco scores which may confuse the Ghanaians. It is expected that the Ghanaians by now should be used to the blowing of whistle at random which may be confusing too.

The 3rd place match is on Friday 25th July at 8pm and the Finals will hold in Rabat on Saturday 26th July at 9pm.

Morocco will host the 16th edition of WAFCON in March 2026 which will be their 3rd consecutive advantage of hosting African women.