Nigeria’s Super Falcons will set out today to
avenge the 1-0 semi-final loss to South Africa in Equatorial Guinea in 2012 when
they meet with the Banyana Banyana today by 4pm, Nigerian time, at the Sam
Nujoma Stadium, Windhoek, in one of the semi-final matches of the ongoing
African Women’s Championship in Namibia.
Wednesday’s meeting will be the third meeting between the two sides at the semi-finals of the competition while the match will also make it nine times they have met at the AWC. Seven of the meetings had ended in favour of Nigeria, one in favour of South Africa, which was the semi-final win in Equatorial Guinea two years ago. The two sides have only drawn once.
Nigeria qualified for the semi-finals after topping the standing in Group A with nine points, which were from a 4-2 defeat of Ivory Coast, a 6-0 bashing of Zambia and a 2-0 win over hosts Namibia.
To book the date with Nigeria, Banyana Banyana emerged Group B runners-up with four points from their three matches as they edged out Ghana on superior goal difference courtesy of their 5-1 win over Algeria in their last group match.
The Falcons are the most prolific side in Namibia, having scored 12 goals and conceding only two, while the South Africans have only been able to score six goals and conceded half the number of goals they scored.
South Africa’s coach Vera Pauw will bank on the experience of veteran forward Portia Modise, captain Janine Van Wyk and player of the match against Algeria Amanda Dlamini to do the damage once again to the title ambition of the Nigerians.
But Edwin Okon will depend on tournament’s highest goal scorer Desire Oparanozie, who has scored four of the twelve goals, the experience of four-time female African Footballer of the Year, Perpetua Nkwocha, the speed of Asisat Oshoala and the craftiness of Ngozi Okobi to unlock the defence of the South Africans and book a place in the October 25 final, which will be the seventh for the West Africans.
The other semi-final match will pit Cameroon against Ivory Coast at 7pm. The tournament winners will represent Africa at the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Canada.
Wednesday’s meeting will be the third meeting between the two sides at the semi-finals of the competition while the match will also make it nine times they have met at the AWC. Seven of the meetings had ended in favour of Nigeria, one in favour of South Africa, which was the semi-final win in Equatorial Guinea two years ago. The two sides have only drawn once.
Nigeria qualified for the semi-finals after topping the standing in Group A with nine points, which were from a 4-2 defeat of Ivory Coast, a 6-0 bashing of Zambia and a 2-0 win over hosts Namibia.
To book the date with Nigeria, Banyana Banyana emerged Group B runners-up with four points from their three matches as they edged out Ghana on superior goal difference courtesy of their 5-1 win over Algeria in their last group match.
The Falcons are the most prolific side in Namibia, having scored 12 goals and conceding only two, while the South Africans have only been able to score six goals and conceded half the number of goals they scored.
South Africa’s coach Vera Pauw will bank on the experience of veteran forward Portia Modise, captain Janine Van Wyk and player of the match against Algeria Amanda Dlamini to do the damage once again to the title ambition of the Nigerians.
But Edwin Okon will depend on tournament’s highest goal scorer Desire Oparanozie, who has scored four of the twelve goals, the experience of four-time female African Footballer of the Year, Perpetua Nkwocha, the speed of Asisat Oshoala and the craftiness of Ngozi Okobi to unlock the defence of the South Africans and book a place in the October 25 final, which will be the seventh for the West Africans.
The other semi-final match will pit Cameroon against Ivory Coast at 7pm. The tournament winners will represent Africa at the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Canada.