THE Super Falcons of Nigeria are favourites to qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympics ahead of South Africa’s Banyana Banyana, according to the history of meetings between the two teams.
Having won the first leg of the qualifying tie 1-0 in Abuja on Friday, the Super Falcons need to just avoid defeat in Pretoria tomorrow to advance to the women’s football event of the Paris 2024 Games.
Although the Super Falcons have lost four times overall to Banyana Banyana, none of these defeats have come on South African soil. If this record is maintained tomorrow, Randy Waldrum’s side will be Paris-bound in July.
In 24 previous clashes (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 draws was the final 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 victories were in Bata, Equatorial Guinea (1-0, 2012 WAFCON); Cape Coast, Ghana (1-0, 2018 WAFCON); Lagos, Nigeria (4-2, Aisha Buhari Cup) and Rabat, Morocco (2-1, 2022 WAFCON).
Of the seven previous encounters between the teams inside South Africa, the Super Falcons have won five and drawn two.
The only times Banyana have been able to hold the Falcons in South Africa were on March 12, 2004 (Athens Olympics qualifier which ended 2-2) and a friendly match on June 3, 2012 that ended 1-1.
Meanwhile, the Super Falcons delegation for tomorrow’s second leg arrived in Pretoria this morning, and have settled down in their hotel ahead of their official training at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium tonight.
Tomorrow’s match will kick off at 7.30pm South African time (6.30pm Nigerian time).
