The Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, has lamented the Super Falcons’ poor treatment at the hands of the South African FA following Tuesday’s Olympics qualifier in Pretoria, Soccernet.ng reports.
Nigeria battled to a goalless draw with South Africa in Pretoria on Tuesday night to claim an aggregate victory in their final qualifying match for the 2024 Olympic Games.
The Super Falcons had defeated the Banyana Banyana 1-0 in Abuja four days earlier in the first leg, courtesy of a fine Rasheedat Ajibade penalty.
South Africa, reigning African champions, were confident of overturning Nigeria’s slim advantage in the return leg.
However, the Super put up an impressive defensive display to keep out the Banyana and secure qualification to the Olympics for the first time since 2008.
Disappointed that their Olympic dreams were shattered, South Africa abandoned Nigeria after the referee’s final whistle.
According to the NFF, the South African FA denied the Super Falcons the use of the team bus anywhere else apart from their hotel and also took away their security personnel.
“SAFA officials made it clear that we were thenceforth on our own,” as per NFF’s Director of Competitions, Ruth David.
“They said the bus would not move us to anywhere again, that their responsibilities ended with the final whistle. They only took us back to the hotel and no longer detailed security personnel for the delegation.
“We must commend the Charge d’Affaires in the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria, Mr. Alexander Tope Ajayi, for all his efforts. He made the team feel comfortable and at home right from our arrival, organized dinner for the team, and mobilized and provided transport for Nigerians based in Pretoria to come to the stadium and support the team. He also organized transport and saw the team off to the airport on departure.”
Despite the poor South African treatment, several Super Falcons players and head coach Randy Waldrum have departed South Africa for their different bases.
It has also been confirmed that eight players and the other team officials flew back to Lagos on Wednesday night aboard a South African Airways flight.
Nigeria will face Brazil, Japan, and world champions Spain in Group C of this year’s Olympic Tournament.
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Sun sha kunya. South Africans just hat Nigerians for no reason but our impertial God always place us on them.
It is quite unreasonable and unprofessional for S A to treat Nigeria the way they did. Inter States matches are not supposed to be a war but that is what S A has turned the game. Must A country necessarily win at home? No This aort of attitude will not help sport development in S A. They should turn a new leaf and accept whatever comes their way in the spirit of friendly competition.
This is against the spirit of sport and it is common in African countries most especially South Africa, thanks for the embassy man . The leader of Nigerian deligates should always have plan B before any final qualifying games especially this type of final qualification in which Nigerian teams are in pole position to qualify .
NFF must submit a detailed report of what happened to CAF without delay. South Africa is always fighting Nigeria on all fronts even when it's not necessary. CAF must adjudicate on this matter to serve as a strong warning to them against future reoccurrence.
But whn the SA national flag was on the ground in your country you never said anything, the whole disrespectful of the whole SA nation, you gys tlk too much, m not from SA but you gys mke too much noise, treat people well before you ask for decent treatment
did you even no were you come from?
What do you expect from South Africans? Despite their much touted infrastructure, these guys are retributive and backward. Do you blame them, Nigeria and leadership kept us the way very irrelevant people sees us. It is not their fault but if this report is correct, then CAF as managed by one of them need to be questioned. The truth is that the noise making backyard neighbours are not going to Olympics. For their position let Nigeria take.