THE Super Falcons of Nigeria have revealed that they were mistreated by their South African hosts after their Paris 2024 Olympic Games triumph in Pretoria on Tuesday night.
The nine-time African champions held Banyana Banyana to a 0-0 draw in Pretoria and secured the ticket to the Olympics women’s football event 1-0 on aggregate having won the first leg by that score in Abuja last Friday.
The Nigerian delegation to South Africa flew back home last night, praising the Charge d’Affaires at the Nigeria High Commission in Pretoria, Alexander Tope Ajayi, for coming to their rescue.
While most of the players and head coach Randy Waldrum left for their different bases in Europe and North America direct from Johannesburg, eight players and the other team officials flew back to Lagos last night aboard a South African Airways flight.
NFF’s Director of Competitions, Ruth David, told thenff.com that South African Football Association authorities abandoned the Super Falcons immediately after Tunisian referee Dorsaf Ganouati blew the final whistle to confirm that the Super Falcons would be joining Brazil, Spain and Japan in Group C of this year’s Olympics.
“SAFA officials made it clear that we were thenceforth on our own. They said the bus would not move us to anywhere again, that their responsibilities ended with the final whistle,” David narrated.
“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, organised dinner for the team and mobilised and provided transport for Nigerians based in Pretoria to come to the stadium and support the team.
“He also organised transport and saw the team off to the airport on departure.”
Captain Rasheedat Ajibade’s penalty in the first leg in Abuja turned out to be the key moment that propelled the Super Falcons to Paris 2024 and ended their 16-year Olympics drought.
