African champions South Africa host the continent’s most successful team, Nigeria, in what promises to be a blockbuster in the final qualifying fixture for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, The PUNCH reports.
The Super Falcons and Banyana Banyana face-off for the second time in four days as they battle for one of Africa’s two tickets for the women’s football event of the Olympics in Paris at the 51,000-capacity Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria.
Nigeria is looking to make a return to the Olympics after a 16-year absence, having last featured in the 2008 edition in Beijing.
The Falcons put themselves in commanding position courtesy of their 1-0 win in the first leg played at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja on Friday, with captain Rasheedat Ajibade’s 42nd minute penalty goal separating both sides ahead of the reverse fixture in Pretoria.
This was Banyana’s first defeat since losing 4-3 to Malawi in the COSAFA Women’s Cup in October, while the Falcons, on the other hand, extended their unbeaten run in a 90-minute match to 14 games, and Randy Waldrum’s side will look to avoid defeat to secure a spot at the global sports fiesta.
The Falcons have never lost away to South Africa, which serves as a boost heading into the 14th meeting between the best countries on the continent. Their last two trips to South Africa ended in a win and draw for the nine-time African champions.
Four-time African Women’s Player of The Year, Perpetual Nkwocha, scored a brace as Nigeria secured a 2-1 win over South Africa at the Sinaba Stadium in the group stage of the 2010 Women Africa Cup of Nations, while both teams settled for a 1-1 draw in a friendly encounter inside the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Phokeng two years later.
Similar results in today’s match will guarantee the Falcons a place at the Olympics.
Asisat Oshoala, who missed out on the first leg after arriving in camp a day before the crucial game, could be recalled into the team for the match, as Waldrum banks on her experience and quality for an edge over their hosts.
“As for what I feel about the next leg, there is no difference if we would have won by two (goals) instead of one,” he said.
“I still feel like we have to go and get a result here.
“We don’t want to go and sit back and try to defend and hold on to this victory.
“I think we still want to show that we are the best team in Africa and we are the better team. I thought we showed that tonight, and we’ll show it again next week.”
His South African counterpart Desiree Ellis said her team would ensure they scored against Falcons.
“We have to look at the footage to see how we can rectify things and how we can be better. We need to score, but we need to be aware to not concede and make sure that we score first to get the game back on at even.
“It’s now up to us to take the game to them and make sure that we score and also make sure that we are settled in defence and we don’t concede.
“They don’t have to come. They can sit back, but the onus is on us. We are going back to familiar surroundings, and we hope to take the game to them.”
