…South Africa Beat Nigeria’s Falcons 2-1.
Nigeria on Thursday night in Casablanca Morocco suffered a painful reoccurrence of how the Super Eagles were sent off in the last world football cup qualifier as the Super Falcons were bounced off with a terminated dream by the Bayana Bayana of South Africa 2-1 in a CAF play-off match.
It was a night of woes as the Nigerians who were ten times African champions out of 14 tournaments played like new entrants drubbed by the South Africans.
After a miserable goalless first half, South Africa got her opening goal in the 56th minute one minute after most experienced Asisat Oshoala was pulled out when players lost concentration wondering at the decision of their coach when dangerous Thembi Kgatlana got a Hilda Magaia connect to score. Rafilone who we call Refill Jane got the 2nd goal in the 77th.
Refill Jane who was yellow carded in the 23rd minute caused another foul in the box to get a second yellow turn red card and the resultant penalty kick was scored by Christy Ucheibe in the 90+3 minute when spectators were already living the stands hissing and shaking their heads for Nigeria whose male team was sent off by Cape Verde at the same play-off in Casablanca too. The hope was not kept alive, the promise to redeem their image was not fulfilled and Nigerians will typically call for the resignation of the soccer Lords and Falcons team officials. NFF elections on 27th September will be in a limbo and terrible direction.
Former mega champions, Nigeria had wobbled and fumbled from their first game losing to debutante Scorchers of Malawi 2-3; pipped Zambia by a lone goal and mauled Egypt 6-2 before losing to less fancied Cameroon 0-1 in the quarterfinals. South Africa lost 1-2 to Tanzania; played 2-2 with Ivory Coast; beat Burkina Faso by a lone goal before falling to Morocco 1-2 in the quarterfinals.
South Africa repeated how they defeated Nigeria at the WAFCON 2022 group C game after playing goalless in 2018 but twice they met at Olympics qualifiers where Nigeria won on 5th April 1-0 and drew 0-0 on 9th of same month in 2024. There was this their last meeting of 22nd July 2025 that Nigeria won 2-1. Not withstanding South Africa will join Ghana to represent Africa at the world cup in Brazil next year.
Meanwhile the WAFCON 3rd place match for Bronze will be played at the Rabat Olympic Stadium between hosts Morocco and Algeria on Saturday 15th at 6pm while the grand finale between Debutante Malawi Scorchers and Lionesses of Cameroon comes up on Sunday 16th at Olympics Stadium in Rabat at 8pm.
Eniola Olatunji reporting for Patmos Media Line.
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