The Super Falcons lead 1-0 in this 2024 WAFCON semifinal against South Africa courtesy of a penalty goal by skipper Rasheedat Ajibade.
The Super Falcons looked the more dangerous of the two sides going forward and created the better chances.
As early as the first minute Andile Dlamini was called to action when Michele Alozie swung in a cross which the South African goalkeeper spilled before she quickly recovered the ball.
Jennifer Echegini fired wide off target after she was set up by Ajibade after four minutes, before Chinwendu Ihezuo again tested the South African goalkeeper five minutes later.
The biggest chance came in the 10th minute, when Dlamini pulled off another big chance when her foot kept out a goal-bound shot by Esther Okoronkwo and the shot by Chinwendi Ihezuo off the rebound was kept out by a South African defender.
Banyana Banyana may have enjoyed more of the ball (57%), but it was the Super Falcons who finally the deadlock on the stroke when their opponents buckled under pressure and a defender handled the ball inside the box, which Ajibade converted.
Incidentally, it was a penalty goal by Ajibade that beat South Africa for Nigeria to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
In the second half, South Africa will be expected to chase the game.
Super Falcons Starting XI vs South Africa: Nnadozie – Plumptre, Alozie, Ohale, Demehin – Ayinde, Echegini, Ajibade (Captain) – Ijamilisu, Ihezuo, Okoronkwo
