Super Falcons captain Rasheedat Ajibade scored from the penalty spot to give Nigeria a 1-0 win over the Banyana Banyana of South Africa in their Paris 2024 Olympics final qualifying round first leg clash decided on Friday, www.aclsports.com reports.
Ajibade, 24, led by example in the 43rd minute to shoot beyond South African goalkeeper Kaylin Swart after Chinwendu Ihezuo – making a return to the team after a long absence – was upended by Noko Matlou inside the box.
The result from Friday’s game decided at the Moshood Abiola Abuja National Stadium means that Nigeria have at least a lead to take into the crucial decisive leg billed for the Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria next Tuesday.
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Winner of the tie will qualify to represent Africa in the Women’s Football Event of this year’s Olympics to be held in Paris, France. Nigeria have not featured in this event since 2008 in Beijing, a sixteen-year absence already.
Nigeria are expected to have on the pitch in the second leg, the reigning African Footballer of the Year Asisat Oshoala. The Bay FC forward was an unused substitute in Friday’s game perhaps consequent of her scheduled late arrival from the States on the eve of the first leg.
Falcons head coach Randy Waldrum also literally went away with murder with his starting lineup on Friday after fixing an unorthodox back four for his withdrawals-stricken side. Returnee Chidinma Okeke was forced to play at left back while midfielder Christy Ucheibe had to partner Osinachi Ohale at centre back.
While the likes of Esther Okoronkwo and Toni Payne made second half entries to the game, Waldrum elected to play the former as a centre forward, leaving Oshoala on the bench throughout the duration of the encounter.
Friday’s win is the first time Nigeria’s Super Falcons have beaten South Africa’s Banyana Banyana since 2018 when Thomas Dennerby’s side won their AWCON semifinal duel on penalties.
Nigeria XI vs South Africa: Nnadozie; Alozie, Ucheibe, Ohale, Okeke; Abiodun, Ayinde, Echegini (Toni Payne 67′); Ajibade, Kanu (Rinsola Babajide 75′), Ihezuo (Esther Okoronkwo 67′).
