Nigeria's Toni Payne challenges Morocco's Fatima Tagnaout in the semifinal of the WAFCON 2022 on Monday in Rabat. Photo: CAF
The Super Falcons lost via penalties to Morocco and missed out on defending their African title as well as a 10th crown
South African legend Portia Modise has carpeted Nigeria for its reliance on old players instead of giving opportunities to younger players as a reason for its downfall in Morocco.
The Super Falcons, who were reduced to nine players, lost 5-4 via penalties after full time and extra time ended 1-1 against hosts Morocco in Monday’s second semifinal game in Rabat.
Modise, who scored 101 goals for Banyana Banyana during her career, said that Nigeria have lost their winning edge because they keep fielding many aged players that ought to have retired instead of giving opportunities to younger players from their Under 20s. However, only three players are aged 34 and older in the Nigeria squad – captain Onome Ebi (39), midfielder Rita Chikwelu (34) and goalkeeper Tochukwu Oluehi (35).
“One thing that I see in the Nigerian team is that they don’t want to let go of the senior players. They need to give the young players an opportunity. Experience alone is not going to work,” said the 39-year-old, who retired in 2015 after playing for 15 years with Banyana Banyana, during a media event organized by FIFA ahead of the 2023 Women’s World Cup.
“I see players that I used to play against, but now I am retired, they are still there. We need to give a chance to the young kids and young generation that are coming.”
Modise also said that Nigeria’s absence from the final is an opportunity for South Africa or Morocco to win the WAFCON title for the first time while the Super Falcons can try to understand what went wrong with their campaign.
“I am so happy that Nigeria is not part of the final. They have been dominating us for so many years,” Modise said.
“But it gives them an opportunity to go back home, to go back to the drawing board and see how to come back with a winning mentality.”
In Saturday’s final, Banyana have an opportunity to win their first title after five second place finishes in the past. It is an opportunity that Modise hopes that coach Desiree Ellis and her players will bring to fruition.
Modise also thinks that the increase in World Cup slots to four for Africa means that more teams get to play on the big stage to help develop women’s football on the continent.
“The game is changing in the minds of a lot of people. It is now left to sponsors that need to take the risk and say they want to grow the women’s game,” Modise said.
The four semifinalists at the WAFCON South Africa, Morocco, Nigeria and Zambia have all qualified, with the Lionesses and the Copper Queens reaching the World Cup for the first time.
Modise believes that the regional qualifying strategy adopted by CAF has resulted in more teams getting an opportunity to play at the WAFCON even though it means that teams like Ghana have to contend with Nigeria in the WAFU Zone, something that led to their failure to qualify for this year’s WAFCON and no chance of reaching the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand next year.
Nonetheless, she hopes that African teams will be able to impress at the World Cup despite the gulf in class and experience between them and the rest of the world.
Ticket sales for the Women’s World Cup will begin in September via the FIFA website.
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Jealousy from this South African Modise . South Africa can never attain Nigeria height in female football. That’s why in high tension match two red cards was issued to one team. To stop them. Jealousy. Yeye
The girls you are talking about age. Didn’t they played well in this tournament?
Nonsense!!!
Modise is right
We need to give the age grade players more role in the senior national team. All through the Falcons participation we see clearly that age has caught up with some of the players on parade
The south African is just jealous.
Down with 9 players for over 50 minutes and remained underated EXCEPT through a lucky penalty kick? Which team in the world can withstand that except the Falcons.
Don't worry, we shall continue to keep our players. Go and beg your banyana people to retain you
Of course it is untrue that age was responsible for ousting the Falcons from WAFCON finals. Portia Modise should find something else to say, rather than coming across as one who is jealous. In one breath you claimed age was responsible for them losing the match, even though they, with 9 players against 11, were able to hold the match to 1-1 draw and only lost 5-4 on penalties. And in another, you said you were happy they were defeated because they have dominated you for long.
Modise is jealous, your inability to continue playing football is your personal setback. The ability of our aged player to continue playing is a special grace, there are not many like these moreover in this competition one can not be winning always so that it remains competitive. You failed you country in your era. Please shut up if you are short of words to comment