Paris 2024: Super Falcons pip South Africa 1-0 in first leg

Nigeria’s Super Falcons are 90 minutes away from qualifying for the football competition of the Olympic Games for the first time in 12 years after 1-0 scoreline victory against visiting reigning African champions, the Bayana Bayana first leg match played at the MKO Abiola National Stadium Abuja on Friday.

The nine-time African champions started the game on a good footing as they dominated the first ten minutes of proceedings and had the chances created utilised would have resulted in three goals for the host.

The reigning African champions who apparently came for a draw sat behind to soak pressure from the Nigerians and knew that a favourable score line would put them in good stead going to the second leg in Pretoria next Tuesday.

Glaringly the player of the match, tormentor-in-chief, Ihezuo Veronica was a thorn in the flesh of the visitors as she ran ring around the South African defence. Her run and incursion into the South African box resulted in Nigeria’s goal through penalty as captain Rasheedat Ajibade wasted no time to slot in the only goal of the game in the 43rd minute.

Ihezuo was on her way to scoring the 2nd goal but was brought down by a South African defender outside the box and was flashed a yellow card by the referee.

Coach of South Africa, Desiree Ellis during a post-match conference commended her team and said it was a tight game adding the game is not over going into the second leg in Pretoria. She however commended the match officials for a job well done.

Falcon’s coach, Randy Waldrum, assured Nigerians that the girls will go into South Africa with a mindset to win and pick the Olympic ticket ahead of the Bayana Bayana.

“It is unfortunate that we could have had two to three goals victory tonight but the team player very well. We had about two to three new players at the back today. But nonetheless, the players have their best.”

Commenting on why Asisat Oshoala didn’t play, Waldrum said, “I wouldn’t tell you if she will play in the next game or not she just came to join us yesterday (Thursday). The weather took it toll on the players but I think they gave their best.

Esther Okoronkwo, however, assured that the girls will give their best going to Pretoria saying South Africans are not a team to be underrated.