National Teams
Paris 2024 Olympic: What we learned from Super Falcons win over Banyana Banyana
By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde
Nigeria’s senior women’s national team will take a goal advantage to the return leg of the Paris 2024 Olympics Qualifiers against South Africa next week.
Rasheedat Ajibade’s first-half penalty separated both sides in the final round of the qualifiers at the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja on Friday.
The win ended Super Falcons’ two match unbeaten run against the African champions.
For the first time in the last four games involving both sides, the Super Falcons were able to secure their first win over 90 minutes against the Banyana Banyana.
There are some lessons and takeaways from the first leg match as we look forward to the return leg in Pretoria.
Super Falcons played the game of their lives
Banyana Banyana has been a thorn in the flesh of the Super Falcons in recent times, coming out tops in their last two meetings in 2021 (Aisha Buhari Cup) and 2022 (Women’s Africa Cup of Nations).
However, Waldrum’s side were determined to halt their losing streak to South Africa.
The first half was really good for the Super Falcons who could have scored at least three goals. Nonetheless, in a bid to correct their Olympic failures since 2008, the Nigerian women displayed bravery and determination to beat Banyana Banyana.
Chiamaka Nnadozie was decisive for the Super Falcons
The reigning African Goalkeeper of the Year Chiamaka Nnadozie was in brilliant form for Nigeria against South Africa.
The visitors fought hard to draw an equaliser on several occasions in the second half but the Paris FC shot-stopper proved to be the difference denying Jermaine Seoposenwe and her teammates the chance to score with brilliant saves.
Banyana Banyana fought well but still lost
Football is anybody’s game as the best team doesn’t always win.
In an evening the Super Falcons had many chances to score in the first half but failed to convert them, Desiree Ellis’ side could have hurt Nigeria had it not been because of the brilliance of Chiamaka Nnadozie in goal.
The reigning African champions were unrelenting in attack during the second half but couldn’t just find the goal they so wanted and in the end, lost the game but not for lack of trying.
Super Falcons continue to struggle for goals under Randy Waldrum
Apart from a 3-2 win over co-host Australia at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, Super Falcons under Waldrum are proving to be a defensive side and finding it hard to find the back of the net.
The latest big wins after the World Cup against Ethiopia.and Cape Verde came under Assistant coach, Justine Madugu who debutised for him while his contract extension talks were ongoing with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
Since the extension of his contract, he has won two games with 1-0 scorelines against Cameroon and South Africa respectively.
An improvement is expected in the retrun.leg if the Super Falcons are to qualify for the Olympics.
A lot to play for in the return leg
Nigeria will take a 1-0 advantage into the second leg in Pretoria, but this tie is far from over.
Both sides will give it their all especially South Africa who will be playing in their home turf with fans on their side.
They have started selling tickets for the game before the fire leg and coach Ellis said the high altitude in Pretoria will be to her team’s advantage.
The Super Falcons can score away from home which means Banyana Banyana will be as good in attack and in defense to be able to overturn the tie.
It’ll be all to play for next week at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria as these sides battle tooth and claws for a ticket to the 2024 Paris Women’s Olympic Football Tournament.
At the end of the two legs, the victors will have another huge hurdle against world powers, Spain, Japan, and Brazil in the group stage of the Olympics.
