The Super Falcons of Nigeria have finally broken their Olympic jinx since 2008 by securing qualification to the Women’s football event of the 2024 Paris Olympics with a 1-0 aggregate win over their rivals, South Africa.
In the first leg of the match, which took place at the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abuja last Friday, the 9-time African Queens won via a Rasheedat Ajibade strike from the penalty spot. The goal was awarded after Banyana Banyana defender Noko Matlou was judged by Algerian referee Mehat Ghada to have committed a foul inside the area in the 40th minute.
The final leg of the match, which took place at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria, was a must-win for South Africa. Despite having a home advantage, the Super Falcons’ defence wall proved to be too strong for the twin strikers, Thembi Kgatlana and Jermaine Seoposenwe, who did not get enough supply to go past them. Instead, most of the Super Falcons’ attacks came from Jennifer Echegini and Chimendou Ihezuo, who benefited from passes from Halimatu Ayinde, Rasheedat Ajibade and Grace Kanu in the midfield.
The Super Falcons missed a glorious opportunity to open the scoring in the 40th minute of the final leg when Kanu could not properly connect a floating ball that was delivered from the right wing. Despite this, they were able to hold on to their lead and secure their qualification for the Olympics.
Nigeria will join Brazil, Japan and world champions Spain in Group C as the Olympics will take place in July and August in Paris.
