Banyana Banyana of South Africa defeated champions Super Falcons of Nigeria 2-1 in the first game in Group C, at the 2023 WAFCON in Morocco, Completesports.com reports.
It is a repeat of the 2018 edition where Banyana Banyana also pipped the Falcons 1-0 in their opener.
It is now back-to-back wins for South Africa against the Falcons after they triumphed 4-2 in the Aishat Buhari Cup in 2021.
After a goalless first half South Africa netted two quick goals through Jermaine Seoposenwe and Hildah Magaia.
The Falcons pulled a goal back late in the game off Rasheedat Ajibade which was only a consolation goal.
The Falcons will be back in action again on Thursday when they will take on Botswana while South Africa will tackle Burundi.
South Africa bossed the first five minutes of the game but the Falcons defence held firm.
In the eight minute the Falcons had a scare as Asisat Oshoala went down and needed treatment following a tough challenge.
Also Read: Exclusive: 2022 WAFCON: Loss To South Africa Will Serve As Wake-Up Call For Falcons –Dosu
Few minutes later South Africa broke forward with Tochukwu Oluehi out of her area but Ashleigh Plumptre got there and cleared for a corner.
On 23 minutes Michelle Alozie tried to play Oshoala through on goal but her effort was blocked.
Few minutes later Oshoala had a chance to open the scoring after controlling a long pass with her chest but fell over with the keeper coming out to claim the ball.
In the 37th minute Alozie found herself in a good space on the right beat her marker but her attempted leftfoot curler went across goal.
Nine minutes a long cross found Ifeoma Onumonu but her header was weak to trouble the South African keeper.
In the 60th minute South Africa broke the deadlock through Jermaine Seoposenwe who collected a pass on the edge of the box before slotting past Tochukwu Oluehi.
Just two minutes later Hildah Magaia doubled South Africa’s lead as she ran on to a through pass and fired past Oluehi.
Minutes later another break from South Africa freed Kgatlana but Oluehi came off her area and fouled her.
The Falcons pushed forward to salvage something out of the game but the South Africans were able to wade off their threats.
And in the 91st minute Ajibade pulled a goal back for Nigeria off an assist from Onome Ebi but it was only a consolation goal as South Africa held on to claim the win.
By James Agberebi
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COMMENTS
I watched the match. Nigeria started late, in fact the last 10 minutes that produced the goal. Asisat was marked out and was injured by one of their defenders as a result. It was like playing 10 against 11 for almost 70 minutes.
SA were so desperate as if their lives depend on it. I don’t think SA can emulate this momentum peradventure if the two countries meet again.
The last 10 minutes was far better when Nigeria made some changes and Aisat was taken out.
Nigeria need youthful players in this team after this tournament. Our U20 and U17 are doing well at the moment.
God bless u sir, we need a youthful age not all this old weman.
The super falcon ladies are now too old, heavier and proud
While south Africa ladies are mobile, flexible, hungrier and humble with more determination for victory
That result to their victory
Congratulations Bayana Bayana girls
Nigeria’s problem today was just the forward line. All they needed to do was hold up play and connect with the midfeild. it was like they forgot how to play football.
Boss, no midfield not just the forward line
Those are the type of player we should have groom not this old and heavy mama’s, they can’t even run imagine..
We do not need foreign coach for falcons. God of thunder will destroy every hand that wants to see Nigerians in pain watching their team going down. Amaju picnic is a wicked fellow. How can they hired a foreign coach to over see the falcon? Local coaches are there. We won virtually all the trophies with local coaches. Oh God! Help kill bad leaders of our country Nigeria. The worse ever game watched in century. This is exactly the way they are managing this great country, causing fear and agitation every. Look at the players, they have out live their prime on the game. We have enough girls around playing in different club here. God of soccer will not forgive the perpetrator of their scandalous act. Old players, to execute Nations Cup. NA WA
Sorry to say but i do no see the falcons winning this cup. I pray Im wrong but i think their reign as African champion is over.
Naija a country where an Employer will prefer to go for the WORST neither the BEST nor the BETTER. But will hope on a good outcome from the Employee.
I won’t say I expected the defeat but Ugo and a few peeps who knows what the problem is won’t be surprised by the defeat. Our girls are too robust and when they meet a mobile team they’re just made to look silly. I made a comment on Naija bias YouTube page that if we don’t get flexible then this will be the outcome and na so e come end. The coaches are not drilling the players enough because this same players at their clubsides are very flexible but when on national assignment they play relax like overfed pigs. Brutal truth nothing more but I expect a wake up on their subsequent matches.
@Chime my brother.. it is a clear case of Lazy play over boastfulness and taking your opponent for granted based on passed glory.. I warned of this before the match. and we see it now Nigeria seems not to learn on the eve of Crucial games Nigerian media and Fans will make so much mouth and the players will think the game is won before the ball is kicked you saw it in the game. South Africa came prepared for the game while Nigeria though all they had to do was show up. I hope our girls have learned their lesson now and sit up. This defeat may be a blessing in disguise. We needed a wake up call sometimes the eventual winners or tournament favourites need this sort of shock early on to pull up their socks we saw it with Senegal mens team in AFCON earlier in the year poor group showing lead to Eventual Champions. Our girls just need to know that Reputation is created from past glory but in order to keep that reputation you need to show the same desire and hunger we have the quality but as the saying goes Quality with out hard work results in average and under performance.
This Defeat i believe may spur the girls up the right way and give them the much needed oomph to go for Glory.. UP SUPER FALCONS WE ARE SOLIDLY BEHIND YOU TO GO FOR GLORY!!
Bro you won’t blame them because a lot of fans are kick and follow who are cowed by what they see and not the real deal. If I post the training video link here you’ll laugh because the pride and lazy robustness is just disgusting. No fitness at all or seriousness and the coach too that is based overseas and taking training lightly makes matters worst. If we have the German discipline all our national teams will dominate Africa and beyond. But from players to coach of the senior teams is just pathetic, except for this new coach who’s desire to tour the country and do more background check is the only sign of things to come that’s if he tries to be honest and not manipulated by anyone.
The defeat might act as wake up call for only the rest of this tournament then after that they’ll go back to their proud self which will make them forget the past mistakes again. If only someone strict can take up the mantle and insist on incessant discipline and focus all the time, instead of hailing them after draws with Canada and some inconsequential results been celebrated like a major trophy.
* Nigeria Starts Slowly *
The good thing about the outcome of this match was that Ajibade’s face saving consolation goal in 91 minutes made the scoreline more respectable.
Waldrum got his tactics all wrong today. His girls were languid and lethargic. His midfield lacked creativity and invention, his three-pronged attacking line up lacked anything resembling a cutting edge while his defence were in their sixes and sevens.
The American deployed a 4-3-3 formation that left his Falcons clueless. The deployment of a slow Onumanu on the flanks baffled the mind. It was like the three attackers – Onumanu, Oshoala and Payne – were complete strangers to each other as they were all on different wavelengths. Oshoala was always a fraction away from connecting with telling passes. Onumanu for all intents and purposes was anonymous while Payne was just toothless.
Ajibade for me pulled some impressive strings in midfield and tried to make her presence felt. But there was so much disconnect in the team’s play that her good works were just swept under the carpet . Chikwelu and Ayinde were simply too perfunctory and rudimentary in their displays. They were easily outshined and overrun in by their South African midfield counterparts.
Plumptre was turned inside out and dislodged for the pass that led to the first goal. Apart from that, she was decent in the offensive and defensive aspects of her play. Michelle Alozie is not a full back. She is not even a defensive midfielder. Playing an out to out striker as a full back went largely unpunished in qualifiers. But Nigeria’s defence was erratic and in total disarray for South Africa’s second goal.
For me, Onome Ebi was surprisingly brilliant. She made very many tackles and interceptions and also provided the assist for Nigeria’ goal. The back line needs to be rejigged but Ebi needs to remain. Ohale was a passenger today and the goalkeeper Oluehi wasn’t always convincing.
I still believe in Waldrum. I think this result will be a wake-up call for him to address the obvious loopholes in the team. I won’t be surprised if he reverts to the more cautious 5-3-2 for the remainder of the tournament regardless of the opposition.
The quality players are there and Randy has milked out acceptable and at times impressive level of performances from them in qualifiers and some friendly matches.
Hopefully the team can pick itself up from the ashes of this disappointment and live up to their tournament winning credentials as the tournament wears on.
I not see any improvement, except changes has to be made. Oshoala is not it, chekwelu, Ebi can not win games again. I tire ohhh
LMFAO!!
When I was COMPLAINING about the GIRLS PHYSIQUE (looking so out of SHAPE) just recently. And PRAISING the PHYSIQUE of the SOUTH AFRICAN LADIES alot of SPYCHOS here CONDEMNED me…
Now, see the OUTCOME…
SMH…
My only question is why do we allow these South Africans to move the ball around the way they do? They’ve simply discovered a winning formula against us. Their years of suffering against Nigeria seems to have come to an end. We give them a lot of time on the ball. They are very good at distributing passes and we don’t seem to have an answer to that. I’m yet to see Waldrum’s contributions in this team. They were playing a lot better under Thomas Dennerby. But I trust the girls to play better in subsequent matches.
these girls are not fit… compare them to their SA counterpart… even Asisat sef an goslow now… retire all those old women and raise a young team the SA have…
The girls tried. They were a bit tired because of their busy club season.
So SA girls dont have busy season?
Good response Jimmy if you watch their training all you’ll notice is your ghenghen flexing and nothing flexible their fitness level is terrible.
I saw the game and I must admit some players in the team have passed their prime and should retire.. Players like the number 10 Rita chiwelu she has served her Nation well and should give way for other players.. Her replacement was a far better player, I was wondering why should a good player was kept on the bench. Ohale as well has done and should give way, the goalkeeper should also retire. They tried their best but I will put the blame on the coach, this selection today was poor our Best players were on the bench and he also waited for too long before making substition. What a disaster! If he had done it earlier maybe we would equalisd sadly it was so late when the girls got their game.. I was so impressed with the captain at 39 still playing so well, what a player
We no Sabi ball period….simple pass we no Sabi give. Oshoala na age grade she Sabi play.
Agreed. Mismanagement. We don’t have a Coach. No pattern! Can’t put strings of passes together. The Nigerian players are too old and slow. What about the South Africa coach? South Africa coach is an excellent coach compared to the Nigerian coach. You could see their ball possession. A woman for that matter. Congratulations Banyana Banyana!