By Harry Awurumibe, Editor Abuja Bureau
The wait is finally over for the grudge match between reigning African Champions, Super Falcons of Nigeria and arch-rivals, Banyana Banyana of South Africa.
Both teams will clash in their opening match of the 12th CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco on Monday evening.
The top of the bill encounter slated at Complexe Moulay Hassan in Rabat by
6 pm (Nigerian time) is rather coming too early for Nigeria and South Africa as the two countries are playing against each other more frequently in recent time.
Prompt News recalls Nigeria has played against South Africa over a dozen times, dating back to 1995 during the 2nd FIFA Women’s World Cup Sweden 1995 African qualifiers when Nigeria hit South Africa 4-0 on March 4, 1995 at Lekan Salami Adamasingba Stadium, Ibadan.
The result of the return leg match
two weeks later (March 18, 1995) was worse as South Africa suffered a 7-1 whitewash in the hands of Nigeria in Johannesburg.
Subsequently, Super Falcons have always beaten Banyana Banyana especially after the Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) introduced African Women Championship (AWC) in 1998 when South Africa crashed out in the group stage of the competition where Nigeria her first official trophy.
Statistics of the meeting between the two countries have shown that even when South Africa hosted the tournament in 2000, Nigeria still beat them 2-0 in the final to lift the Maryam Sani Abacha Cup for the second time.
Two years later South Africa suffered a 5-0 thrashing; followed by Nigeria; another 2-0 loss in 2006; 1-0 defeat in 200I8 and 2-1 loss to Super Falcons in 2010 respectively.
However, the South Africans broke the cycle of defeats in 2012 when they successfully held the Nigeria to two draws in consecutive friendly games which ended 1-1 and 2-2 respectively in June 2012.
But, some months later, Banyana Banyana would clinch their first victory over Nigeria in the 2012 AWC semi-final match by beating the Super Falcons 1-0.
Also, both met again in the semi-final in 2014 but Nigeria exerted revenge as an Asisat Oshoala brace sealed a 2-1 win South Africa.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s dominance of South Africa has seriously been threatened by Banyana Banyana with two recent defeats of Nigeria a red flag on what to expect when both clash on Monday, June 4 by 6 pm in Rabat.
This is even as South Africa beat Nigeria 1-0 with Thembi Kagthlana late goal at Cape Coast Stadium in the opening match of the last WAFCON in Ghana in December, 2018 and only lost the trophy after a 4-3 penalty shoot-out at Accra Sports Stadium in the epic final three weeks later.
Only last year in September, South Africa humiliated Nigeria with a 4-2 thrashing in the final of the Aisha Buhari Invitational Tournament played at the refurbished
Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Lagos precisely on Tuesday, September 21, 2021.
The result of that match was a clear manifestation of the state of both teams since their last meeting in the AWCON final in Ghana just as the victory in Lagos will give the Coach Desiree Ellis-tutored team the audacity to challenge Super Falcons on Monday night.
Buoyed by the huge financial rewards promised the team if they win the WAFCON 2022, Banyana Banyana players will come smoking against the Super Falcons, the team they beat nearly a year ago.
It they are successful in their plans, the Super Falcons quest for a fourth consecutive and 10th overall WAFCON title will be a pipe dream.
The South Africans have a reputation for blowing hot and cold, having made it to four previous WAFCON finals and failed to win the tournament hence they are determined to get the acts together this time around starting with another victory over Nigeria in the first match in Morocco.
But Super Falcons Head Coach Randy Waldrum has enough weapons in his armoury to finish off the South Africans if the armada of foreign-based players he took to Morocco will play to his institutions.
The American-born gaffer who was incharge when South Africa spoilt the party for the organisers of the Aisha Buhari Invitational Tournament in the 4-2 loss to Coach Ellis team, has a second chance to take his pound of flesh in Rabat.
With experience stars like goalkeeper, Chiamaka Nnadozie (Paris FC, France) and defenders:Glory Ogbonna (Santa Teresa FC, Spain); Onome Ebi (En Avant Guingamp, France); Osinachi Ohale (Deportivo Alaves, Spain) and Ashleigh Plumptre (Leicester City, England) in the team, Nigeria is sure of victory over South Africa.
Waldrum may also wish to unleash his tested and trust players on South Africa. They are
midfielders-Toni Payne (Sevilla FC, Spain), Rasheedat Ajibade (Atletico Madrid, Spain) and Rita Chikwelu (Madrid CFF, Spain) as well as forwards Ifeoma Onumonu (NY/NJ Gotham FC, USA), Uchenna Kanu (Tigres Femenil, Mexico) and Asisat Oshoala (FC Barcelona, Spain).
Indeed, the Nigerian team is loaded to the hilt to the extent that any of the 25 players selected by the coach to start the game against South Africa can give a good account of herself.
However, the Nigeria versus South Africa match will be won from the bench as the coach with superior tactics will carry the day, although the odds favour Super Falcons to beat the Banyana Banyana in the epic clash.
SUPER FALCONS 25 PLAYERS IN MOROCCO
Goalkeepers: Chiamaka Nnadozie (Paris FC, France); Tochukwu Oluehi (Maccabi Kishronot Hadera, Israel); Yewande Balogun (Coppermine United, USA)
Defenders: Glory Ogbonna (Santa Teresa FC, Spain); Onome Ebi (En Avant Guingamp, France); Osinachi Ohale (Deportivo Alaves, Spain); Ashleigh Plumptre (Leicester City, England); Nicole Payne (West Virginia University, USA); Michelle Alozie (Houston Dash, USA); Akudo Ogbonna (Edo Queens)
Midfielders: Peace Efih (Kiryat Gat, Israel); Halimatu Ayinde (Eskilstuna FC, Sweden); Toni Oyedupe Payne (Sevilla FC, Spain); Regina Otu (Minsk FC, Belarus); Christy Ucheibe (SL Benfica, Portugal); Rasheedat Ajibade (Atletico Madrid, Spain); Rita Chikwelu (Madrid CFF, Spain); Ngozi Okobi-Okeoghene (Eskilstuna FC, Sweden)
Forwards: Francisca Ordega (CSKA Moscow, Russia); Vivian Ikechukwu (WFC Gintra, Lithuania); Chinonyerem Macleans (GSK Gornik Leczna, Poland); Ifeoma Onumonu (NY/NJ Gotham FC, USA); Uchenna Kanu (Tigres Femenil, Mexico); Asisat Oshoala (FC Barcelona, Spain); Gift Monday (Bayelsa Queens).
