By Akinwale Kasali
The Super Falcons of Nigeria will file out against the Bayana Bayana of South Africa to book a spot in the Playoffs to reach the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup finals after their quarter-final exit at the ongoing Women Africa Cup of Nations finals in Morocco.
Recall that both arch rivals met at the last WAFCON tournament in a turgid and dramatic Women Africa Cup of Nations Semi Finals, with the Super Falcons recording a 2-1 victory to book a place in the final courtesy of a spectacular added-time goal by defender Michelle Alozie.
South Africa’s Banyana Banyana has been victorious over the Super Falcons in three editions of the Women Africa Cup of Nations – 2012, 2018 and 2022. However, those are three of only four competitive matches in which South Africa’s senior women have beaten their Nigerian counterparts, with the 10-time African champions having defeated Banyana in 17 other clashes.
Thursday’s encounter could prove even more fierce than any of their past encounters, with both teams eager to advance and reach the Inter-Confederations Playoff Tournament – the window they have now to reach Brazil 2027 after failing to reach the Women AFCON semi finals.
Venue is the Moulay Rachid Stadium in Casablanca, with kickoff set for 9pm.
Before last year’s Women AFCON semi-final duel, both teams had fought a titanic battle in two matchdays for a spot at the 2024 Olympic Women’s Football Tournament, with captain Rasheedat Ajibade’s goal from the penalty spot in Abuja separating the two teams in 180 minutes. Two years earlier, the Banyana had edged the Falcons 2-1 in the two teams’ opening match of the 2022 Women AFCON in Morocco.
Ajibade will still lead out the Falcons on Thursday, while the Banyana still have the precocious and lethal Thembi Kgatlana in their ranks.
After creating so many opportunities but failing to hit target in the duel with Cameroon’s Indomitable Lionesses on Sunday, Coach Justin Maduagu will surely opt to start with a couple of clinical finishers on Thursday.
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