Nigeria’s Super Falcons have arrived in South Africa ahead of the second leg of their Paris 2024 Olympic Games qualifier against the Banyana Banyana, Soccernet.ng reports.
The two teams met at the MKO Abiola National Stadium in Abuja on Friday for the first leg of the fourth and final playoff decider for the Olympics.
Atletico Madrid star Rasheedat Ajibade netted a first-half penalty to help the Super Falcons carve out a narrow 1-0 win over the Banyana Banyana, reigning African champions.
With the away goal rule off, coach Randy Waldrum’s girls must avoid a defeat in the return fixture to book their place at Paris 2024.
The game is scheduled for tomorrow (Tuesday, April 9th) inside the 51,762-capacity Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Kirkness Road in Pretoria.
Ahead of the encounter, 22 Super Falcons players and several coaches and team handlers landed in South Africa early on Monday morning.
🔝 Paris 2024 Olympic Ticket!
— The Super Falcons Show (@Superfalconshow) April 8, 2024
🔝 The Super Falcons 🇳🇬 have landed🛫in South Africa ahead of the final showdown with the Banyana Banyana 🇿🇦.
🔝 Send in your words of encouragement! ||🇿🇦🇳🇬|💪💪💪#TheMTNSuperFalconsShow #ThisIsNaija #WhereFootballLives #Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/4NfaWCk9O2
While South Africa spent six days in Nigeria before their game against the Super Falcons, the former champions will be in Pretoria for less than 40 hours before they take on the Banyana Banyana.
A lot is at stake, though, as the Super Falcons look to make a return to the Olympics after a 16-year absence.
While South Africa will target a win on Tuesday, the Super Falcons can take confidence in their away record against the WAFCON title holders.
Nigeria have never lost to Banyana Banyana on South African soil.
The Super Falcons claimed a win and a draw in their two meetings.
Legendary forward Perpetual Nkwocha netted a brace as Nigeria secured a 2-1 win over South Africa at the Sinaba Stadium in the group stage of the 2010 WAFCON.
Both teams settled for a 1-1 draw in a friendly encounter played inside the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Phokeng two years later.
NB: Can Nigeria’s Super Falcons avoid a defeat against South Africa in Pretoria? Leave your comments below.
