Nigeria’s Mission X campaign powers steadily toward its final destination, with the Super Falcons vowing to derail South Africa’s hopes of retaining their Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) crown when both sides clash in the second semi-final of the 13th edition, set for this evening in Casablanca.
The Super Falcons have never missed a semi-final appearance in the tournament’s 27-year history, and they firmly upheld that record with a commanding 5-0 victory over Zambia in Friday’s quarter-final—silencing a team that had talked a big game but proved no match.
Historically, South Africa’s Banyana Banyana have struggled against Nigeria’s dominance. It took them 17 years after their first meeting in March 1995 to notch a single win over the Falcons—a slim 1-0 triumph during the 2012 WAFCON in Equatorial Guinea. Before that, their encounters were often one-sided, with Nigeria dishing out heavy defeats, including emphatic 7-1 and 5-0 routs.
The Banyana netted another Women AFCON win in Ghana in 2018 (group stage), but suffered heartbreak in a penalty shootout in the final that earned Nigeria a 9th continental title. Three years ago, the Banyana again had the upper hand in a group stage match (2-1) and went on to win their first African title after beating host nation Morocco (penalty shootout winners over Nigeria in the semi-finals) in the final.
Debate has been fierce over the past few weeks as to which team is the best in Africa, between the Falcons and the Banyana, and that question should be properly attended to at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium this evening.
In 10 previous Women AFCON clashes between both nations, Nigeria have been triumphant six times, with South Africa winning on three occasions. The only one that ended in a draw (2018 Women AFCON Final) was eventually won by Nigeria following a penalty shootout.
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In total, both teams have clashed 25 times, since the first meeting on 4th March 1997 – a 1995 FIFA Women’s World qualifying match that the Falcons won 4-1. In the return leg in South Africa two weeks later, the Banyana were pumped 7-1. The Super Falcons have won 15 times, with six games ending in draws and the Banyana winning four times.
South Africa’s biggest win over Nigeria remains a 4-2 spanking they handed to an understrength Nigeria in the Aisha Buhari Invitational Tournament in Lagos in September 2021. Most recently, the Falcons rode over the Banyana to qualify for their first appearance at the Women Olympic Football Tournament in 16 years.
Two years ago, both the Falcons and the Banyana reached the Round of 16 at the FIFA Women’s World Cup finals in Down Under. However, the Falcons were the ones that wowed the universal audience with their guts, grit and flair, in defeating co-hosts Australia right at Brisbane’s Lang Park and leaving the tournament unbeaten in regulation time.
Here in Morocco, Nigeria forward Chinwendu Ihezuo is firmly in the race for the top scorer’s award, as she is presently on three goals, one behind Morocco captain Ghizlane Chebbak and Senegalese forward Nguenar Ndiaye.
No doubt, the indices and elements are there for an explosive Women AFCON semi-final clash in Casablanca on Tuesday evening.
HEAD-TO-HEAD: NIGERIA VS. SOUTH AFRICA:
4 Mar 1995: Nigeria 4 South Africa 1 (WCq)
19 Mar 1995: South Africa 1 Nigeria 7 (WCq)
25 Nov 2000: South Africa 0 Nigeria 2 (WAFCON)
18 Dec 2002: Nigeria 5 South Africa 0 (WAFCON)
30 Mar 2003: South Africa 0 Nigeria 3 (Friendly)
11 Oct 2003: Nigeria 1 South Africa 0 (AfGames)
12 Mar 2004: South Africa 2 Nigeria 2 (Olyq)
28 Mar 2004: Nigeria 1 South Africa 0 (Olyq)
9 July 2007: South Africa 2 Nigeria 2 (AfGames)
18 July 2007: South Africa 0 Nigeria 4 (AfGames)
28 July 2008: Nigeria 5 South Africa 0 (Olyq)
12 Aug 2008: South Africa 0 Nigeria 1 (Olyq)
22 Nov 2008: South Africa 0 Nigeria 1 (WAFCON)
4 Nov 2010: South Africa I Nigeria 2 (WAFCON)
3 June 2012: South Africa 1 Nigeria 1 (Friendly)
23 June 2012: Nigeria 0 South Africa 0 (Friendly)
7 Nov 2012: South Africa 1 Nigeria 0 (WAFCON)
22 Oct 2014: South Africa 1 Nigeria 2 (WAFCON)
29 Nov 2016: Nigeria 1 South Africa 0 (WAFCON)
18 Nov 2018: South Africa 1 Nigeria 0 (WAFCON)
1 Dec 2018: Nigeria 0 South Africa 0 (WAFCON)
- Nigeria triumphed 4-3 penalties
21 Sept 2021: Nigeria 2 South Africa 4 (Aisha Buhari Cup)
4 July 2022: South Africa 2 Nigeria 1 (WAFCON)
5 April 2024: Nigeria 1 South Africa 0 (Olyq)
9 April 2024: South Africa 0 Nigeria 0 (Olyq)
