WAFCON 2024: Naija Super Falcons vs South Africa Banyana Banyana – Who Go Win Dis Semifinal Showdown?
De 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) don reach fever pitch, and all eyes dey on de blockbuster semifinal clash between Nigeria Super Falcons and South Africa Banyana Banyana. Dis match, wey go happen on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, for Casablanca, Morocco, na one proper heavyweight fight for African women football.
De two teams na giants for de continent, and dis game go decide who go carry de bragging rights and move closer to dat shiny WAFCON trophy. Make we dive into wetin make dis match so special, de history, and wetin we fit expect.
De Road to de Semifinals
Naija Super Falcons don show say dem no dey here to play small. For de quarterfinals, dem scatter Zambia Copper Queens wit a 5-0 win wey shock everybody. Osinachi Ohale open de scoring wit a fine header, Esther Okoronkwo add her own, Chinwendu Ihezuo show class, Tosin Demehin nod in anoda, and Folashade Ijamilusi seal de deal. Dis performance show say de Super Falcons, under coach Justine Madugu, dey hungry to reclaim de WAFCON title wey dem last win for 2018.
Dem no gree concede any goal since de tournament start, thanks to goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie wey dey guard post like lion. But dem get small wahala for attack, as dem no too dey convert chances since dia 3-0 win over Tunisia for de group stage.
On de oda hand, South Africa, de defending champions, no get am easy for dia quarterfinal match. Dem face Senegal, and after 90 minutes plus extra time, de game end 0-0. Na penalty shootout settle am, and Banyana Banyana win 4-1, showing say dem get mental strength.
Coach Desiree Ellis don build a solid team wey sabi defend and attack with balance. For de group stage, dem top Group C wit seven points, scoring seven goals from seven different players, including a fine free-kick from captain Refiloe Jane. But dem miss star player Thembi Kgatlana, wey no dey dis tournament for personal reasons.
De Rivalry
Dis Nigeria-South Africa rivalry no be today tory. De two teams don clash plenty times, and e always dey hot. Super falcons don win nine WAFCON titles, making dem de most successful team for de tournament history.
South Africa, wey win de last edition for 2022, dey look to defend dia crown and prove say dem fit stand toe-to-toe wit Naija. De last time dem meet, for Olympic qualifiers, Nigeria stop South Africa from reaching de Paris 2024 Olympics, so Banyana Banyana go wan revenge for dis one.
But Super falcons no go forget say South Africa beat dem for de 2022 WAFCON group stage, even though Zambia later edge Naija for de third-place match.
Key Players to Watch
For Nigeria, Chiamaka Nnadozie na de backbone. De goalkeeper, wey dey play for Brighton & Hove Albion, don keep four clean sheets for dis tournament.
Asisat Oshoala, Rinsola Babajide, and Chinwendu Ihezuo go need to step up dia game for attack, as dem don dey struggle to score recently.
Ashleigh Plumptre and Osinachi Ohale dey solid for defense, and dem go need to stay sharp against South Africa’s attack.
For Banyana Banyana, captain Refiloe Jane na de engine for midfield, and her set-piece delivery fit cause wahala. Since Thembi Kgatlana no dey, players like Linda Motlhalo and Jermaine Seoposenwe go need to carry de goal-scoring load. Goalkeeper Andile Dlamini, wey make fine saves against Senegal, go be key if South Africa wan stop Nigeria’s attack.
Wetin Go Happen?
Dis match na proper 50-50. Nigeria get experience and a strong defense, but dia attack need to click. South Africa get balance and momentum, but dem go miss Kgatlana’s flair. De game fit come down to one moment of magic or mistake, as coach Ellis talk.
If Nigeria fit find dia scoring boots early, dem fit control de game. But if South Africa use dia teamwork and set-piece strength, dem fit cause upset.
Fans across Africa go dey glued to dia screens, as SuperSport go broadcast de match live with multi-language commentary. For Morocco, SNRT go show am, and New World TV go cover for French-speaking areas. De winner go face either Morocco or Ghana for de final, and dat one sef na anoda big tory.
Final Word
Dis Nigeria vs South Africa clash na more than just a semifinal. E be like two giants wey dey fight for supremacy. Nigeria wan reclaim dia throne, while South Africa wan show say dia 2022 win no be fluke. Who go win? Only time go tell, but one tin sure: dis match go be fire!