Paris 2024: Ajibade’s Strike Earns Falcons Slim First Leg Advantage Against South Africa

A late first half penalty converted by Rasheedat Ajibade earned Nigeria’s Super Falcons a 1-0 win against South Africa’ Banyana Banyana, in the first leg of the Paris 2024 Olympic games final qualifiers in Abuja on Friday.

It is the Falcons first win against South Africa since edging them on penalties in the final of the 2018 WAFCON.

Ajibade scored in the 43rd minute after Chiwendu Ihezuo was fouled inside the box.

The Falcons will hope to get at least a draw in the second leg in Pretoria, on Tuesday, 9 April, 2024.

The winner over the two legs will pick one of the two tickets to the Paris 2024 Olympic games.

After appearing at the Beijing 2008 Olympics, the Falcons failed to feature at the London 2012, Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 games.

The Falcons beat outing at the Olympics was at Athens 2004 when they reached the quarter-finals.

Meanwhile, the other qualifier is between Morocco and Zambia.

Paris 2024: Ajibade’s strike separates Falcons and Banyana Banyana as attention shifts to Pretoria

April 5th, 2024

Captain Rasheedat Ajibade’s well-taken 42nd minute penalty separated nine-time African champions Nigeria and reigning champions South Africa in their Women’s Olympic Football Tournament qualifying match at the MKO Abiola National Stadium on Friday night.

Chinwendu Ihezuo was upended in the box just minutes earlier as the Super Falcons broke forward once more, and the Spain-based Ajibade made no mistake in heaving the ball past Kaylin Swart.

Returnee forward Ihezuo was a real pain in the neck for the Banyana, as her pace unsettled their rearguard several times, but Nigeria failed to make hay from dead-ball situations before and after Ajibade’s strike.

In the second half, the Banyana took over the midfield with Linda Motlhalo, Refiloe Jane and Nomvula Kgoale showing pace and invention, but Osinachi Ohale and Christy Ucheibe in the Nigeria central defence closed them down now and again.

Goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie was called upon to make a world-class save midway into the second half, when Jermain Seoposenwe fired a belter from 20 yards after a good pass from the precocious Thembi Kgatlana.

Substitutes Esther Okoronkwo and Rinsola Babajide added some spark to the Super Falcons’ foreline, but they could not get past the outstanding Kaylin Swart.

Attention has immediately shifted to Tuesday’s return leg at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria, where there is still so much to play for with the Falcons only a goal up in the fixture.

The Banyana will fly back to Johannesburg on Saturday morning while the Super Falcons will fly out of Lagos on Sunday night.

Banyana Banyana go down to Nigeria in first leg qualifier

Nigeria……….(1)1 (Ajibade 43’)
South Africa…(0)0

5 April 2024 – Banyana Banyana will have to give it all in the second leg of the CAF Women’s Olympic qualifier after going down 1-0 to the Super Falcons of Nigeria in the first leg on Friday at MKO Abiola Stadium in Abuja.

The visitors had a slow start with the hosts dominating the first half and doing most of the attacking.

The constant pressure finally paid off in the 43rd minute when defender Noko Matlou committed a foul inside the box and the Falcons were awarded a penalty. Rasheedat Ajibade made no mistake converting from the spot as Banyana Banyana went to the break trailing by that solitary strike.

Banyana Banyana came back from the break a much more improved side but failed to convert the few chances that came their way.

Outstanding goalkeeper Kaylin Swart had to work overtime to deny the hosts from extending their lead.

Despite creating numerous chances for an equaliser, the game ended 1-0 for the Super Falcons.

The two African giants will lock horns for the second leg on 9 April 2024 at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria where coach Desiree Ellis’ charges will be hoping to overturn the deficit. And coach Ellis believes they are still in the game and can turn things around in the second leg on Tuesday.

“Look, we said it was going to be a tight game but we are hopeful of overturning this result in the second leg.”

“We are still in the game. We created a couple of chances, a penalty decided the match but the game is not over. I thought in the second half we raised our game a lot and created good chances and could have equalized. Maybe we could also have gotten a penalty at the end when Jermaine was fouled but I’m very proud of the team and we will take it back to Pretoria,” said Ellis.

phemmie06:
Congratulations girls
I pray South Africa won't baptized us with goals when we go for the second leg

You can make us proud