WAFCON 2024: South Africa Edge Senegal on Penalties, Set Up Semifinal Clash with Nigeria

By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde

Defending champions South Africa secured a tense 4-1 penalty shootout victory over Senegal on Saturday to book a spot in the semifinals of the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).

The quarterfinal clash ended goalless after 120 minutes of football, with Banyana Banyana holding their nerve in the shootout to advance.

Desiree Ellis’ side will now face arch-rivals Nigeria on Tuesday in a highly anticipated semifinal showdown.

The Super Falcons, nine-time African champions, will be seeking revenge after South Africa defeated them 2-1 in the group stage of the 2022 tournament in Morocco—an opening result that sparked Banyana’s run to their maiden WAFCON title.

Their most recent meeting came in April during the Paris 2024 Olympic qualifiers, which ended in a 0-0 draw. Nigeria advanced 1-0 on aggregate to book their spot in the upcoming Summer Games.

Tuesday’s semifinal promises another chapter in one of African women’s football’s fiercest rivalries.

Oluwaseun Oyediji

Oluwaseun Babatunde Oyediji is a multi-media sports journalist with over 10 years experience in Information Communication Technology (ICT), women's football, and beach soccer reportage.The prolific writer is the Media Assistant to Nigeria Beach Soccer League and Africa Beach Soccer Union as well as contributor on Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) website.He has covered multiple national and international football tournaments including Championship of African Nations (CHAN 2020), CAF Women's Champions League (2023), and Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2023).Since 2021, Oyediji has covered the NWFL Premiership especially the season ending Super Six Playoffs.A member of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Ogun state chapter is also the image maker of the Remo Sports Development Council under the leadership of Chief Falilat Ogunkoya and David Osuolale.

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