Super Falcons will go into tomorrow’s Paris 2024 Olympics playoff return leg against Banyana Banyana with full confidence as they are yet to lose to their rivals in South Africa.
Since March 19, 1995, when the Super Falcons humiliated the Banyana 7-1 in front of their fans in Johannesburg in a 1995 FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifying match, South Africa are still looking for a first win over the Falcons in any match played at their home.
In 24 previous encounters (with seven played in South Africa), Nigeria have won 15, with five ending in draws and South Africa winning on four occasions.
One of the drawn games was the final match of the 11th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, which Nigeria eventually won 4-3 after a penalty shootout in Accra.
South Africa’s four wins have been in Bata, Equatorial Guinea (1-0, 2012 Women AFCON); Cape Coast, Ghana (1-0, 2018 Women AFCON); Lagos, Nigeria (4-2, Aisha Buhari Cup) and; Rabat, Morocco (2-1, 2022 Women AFCON).
Of the seven previous encounters inside South Africa, Nigeria have won five and drawn two.
The only times the Banyana have been able to hold the Falcons in South Africa were on 12th March 2004 (Athens Olympics qualifier which ended 2-2) and a friendly match on 3rd June 2012 that ended 1-1.
The Super Falcons’ delegation for Tuesday’s all-important match arrived in Pretoria on Monday morning, and have settled down in their hotel ahead of their official training at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium.
Tuesday’s match will kick off at 7.30 pm South African time, which is 6.30 pm Nigeria time.
