Banyana Banyana of South Africa defeated Nigeria’s Super Falcons 2-1 in the 2027 World Cup qualifying play-in on Thursday, completesports.com reports.
The result means for the first time the Super Falcons will not be at the FIFA women’s World Cup since their debut in 1991.
For South Africa they have now joined Ghana’s Black Queens as the two teams from Africa that will feature at the Intercontinental playoffs.
Both teams faced off in the play-in after losing their Women’s African Cup of Nations (WAFCON) quarterfinals.
The Super Falcons lost 1-0 to Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon while hosts Morocco edged out South Africa 2-1.
After a goalless first half, South raced to a 2-0 lead thanks to goals from Thembi Kgatlana and captain Refiloe Jane, who was later sent off for a deliberate handball inside the box.
Substitute Christy Ucheibe pulled a goal back for the Super Falcons late in the game which was only a consolation.
The early part of the game saw South Africa dictate play while the Super Falcons remained organised at the back.
Also Read: 2027 WWC Playoffs: Super Falcons Must Make Second Chance Count Against South Africa — Madugu
In the 12th minute Rasheedat Ajibade hit a shot after a poor clearance by a South African player but it took a deflection and went out for a corner kick.
The Super Falcons had a chance on 39 minutes from a set piece but Jennifer Echegini’s ball into the box was saved by the South African keeper.
With five minutes left in the forst half Michelle Alozie hit a low shot from the edge of the box which went narrowly wide.
In added time of first half South Africa went close through Motlhalo but her strike close to the edge of the box went over the bar.
Asisat Oshoala had a big chance in the 51st minute after the ball fell to her inside the box from a cross but her lame effort was saved by the keeper.
Then South Africa took the lead through Kgatlana on 56 minutes as she slotted past Chiamaka Nnadozie off a cross from the left side.
On 62 minutes Kgatlana almost got her second goal to double the lead as she had another big chance but her shot inside the box was well saved by Nnadozie.
With 15 minutes left Uchenna Kanu went close to drawing Super Falcons level as she headed a cross but the keeper palmed away for a corner.
On 77 minutes South Africa went 2-0 up thanks to Jane whose shot inside the box took a deflection off Christy Ucheibe and went into the net.
In added time the Super Falcons were awarded a penalty, following consultation with VAR, after Jane blocked a goal bound header with her outstretched hand.
The spot kick was converted by Ucheibe whose effort went past the South African keeper to make it 2-1 in the 93rd minute.
Alozie had a big chance to take the game to extra time but her left foot strike from close range was stopped by the keeper’s outstretched left foot.
By James Agberebi
8 Comments
Twice we are ousted by South Africa in the men and female senior world cups..Very sad!
On both occasions our local coaches were a big part of the disappointment!
Should we trust our local coaches with our senior teams especially in the world Cup playoffs going forward?My answer is NO!!
I just found out through the commentary that Madugu had been in the super falcons setup since 2012, yes, 2012.
This “un-elite” coach that chose to play several football age over 30 years old Nigerian born players because he distrusts the foreign born ones when he didn’t even discover anybody sef.
My dislike for local coaches at the senior level is because they don’t measure up at the cadet level, in recent years especially since the dawn of MRI scan.
Madugu, balon dor nominee, just broke several records in under a year of the last WAFCON win WITH THE SAME PLAYERS.
I THOROUGHLY CONGRATULATE EVERYONE WHO EDGED HIM ON.
Even that CS YouTube video analyst lol.
Madugu must stay oh for the elusive playoffs.
He’s the best thing since sliced bread.
African women’s football didn’t improve at all. Nigeria declined rapidly.
Because of “functional” football.
I celebrate all of them.
Ah, I forget. He beat several white coaches too.
Inferiority complex in the mud jare
Clear message from Banyana Banyana from far-away Morocco: Super Falcons, go beck to your kwantiri. And I mean, pantry.
Hunger dey hammer folks here for Naija.
Suffering and smiling.
Meantime, the resilient Black Queens of Ghana marches on.
Osondi Owendi.
Gusau should now know that he has the most negative records in the history of nff.
With all these negatives records around you, I can never ever forgive you. Like I said before you may allow supper eagles to miss out on next year afcon too.
Your name will go down as the most ill luck nff chair man Nigeria has ever had.
NFF is the same from the time of Adam and Eve. There is just something wrong with this present government as well, because all that seems to befall Nigeria is doom results since their inception and change of our National anthem. Let’s enjoy the nativeland syndrome abi na wetin dey sweet us.
CS Abeg let my comment display please the truth must be said because it’s all gloomy no more World Cup for our national teams from u17 to senior team except inconsequential flamingos. This is terrible and bad. NFF must leave and all coaches vacate their post now because Nigeria is a laughing stock here in Diaspora.
It is very obvious that super falcons is no longer super in African football at the moment.Many of our players have lost forms.
Look at that South African player like a human ghost. And you called this a woman.
Nawa o for these small small countries that desperate to go to the World Cup.
When Nigeria local coaches wins a competition, they always fail woefully in another because they lack tactical sagacity. Once they have been able to win with the only tactics they understand by the next competition they get beaten black and blue because by they other coaches must have studied their one dimensional pattern of play and that’s it. Please if we love our football, let’s get competent foreign coaches for all our national teams.