Sweet revenge for Banyana Banyana over Nigeria after first-half blitz
BANYANA Banyana laid the foundation for a hard-fought 4-2 win over Nigeria’s muchvaunted Super Falcons with a 3-0 first-half advantage in Lagos yesterday.
The match was the final encounter of the Aisha Buhari Invitational Women’s Tournament at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena.
The outcome was sweet revenge for South Africa, who tasted defeat when they last played Nigeria, nine-time champions of Africa.
That occasion was the final of the 2018 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Ghana, where Nigeria relied on a penalty shoot-out to claim the title.
South Africa’s first-half display yesterday was a fine advertisement for local women’s football, which has come on in leaps and bounds.
Recently, football’s world governing body Fifa sang South Africa’s praises. Three of their bigwigs, secretary-general Fatma Samoura, council member Aisha Johansen and head of women’s football, Sarah Bareman, were among the spectators.
Nigeria threatened soon after the kick-off and breached South Africa’s penalty area, but failed to create a scoring chance.
The home crowd was silenced in the sixth minute when South Africa fortuitously opened the scoring through an own goal.
Nigerian defender Chidi Alozie steered the ball into the net as she tried to clear a cross into the penalty area.
The gift goal seemed to lift South Africa’s play, and Nigeria were forced to go on the defensive for a sustained spell.
The Banyana pressure was rewarded in the 17th minute when referee Zouweira Souley of Niger awarded a penalty.
Nigerian central defender Onome Ebi was blown up for handball, and midfielder Linda Motlhalo scored from the spot to give South Africa a commanding 2-0 lead.
Nigeria enjoyed a few half-chances, but failed to capitalise in the remaining first-half play.
Instead, South Africa increased their lead after terrific footwork by Thembi Kgatlana, who tormented the opposition defence whenever she was in possession.
Her 33rd minute shot was cleared, but the ball ricocheted off the crossbar, and striker Gabriela Salgado ghosted past the packed defence to nod the ball home to make it 3-0 to the visitors.
In the second half, Nigeria set about dismantling the deficit and substitute midfielder Obianujuwan Ikechukwu led the charge.
After only two minutes on the field, she opened Nigeria’s score by punishing South Africa’s sloppy defence in the penalty box.
The crowd was hardly back in their seats when Ikechukwu again intervened in great fashion.
She unleashed a 35m pile-driver, which left South African goalkeeper Kaylin Swart grasping air after the ball dipped under the crossbar to make it 3-2.
Nigeria enjoyed the better of second-half play, but after clawing their way back into the picture with two goals, they were denied further scores as South Africa closed out the match with stout defence.
Substitute Mamello Makhabane crowned South Africa’s heroic performance with a penalty and made it 4-2 after Motlhalo was fouled in front of Nigeria’s posts seconds before the final whistle.