September 21, (THEWILL) – The Lagos Mobolaji Johnson Arena will on Tuesday be the battleground of a clash for superiority between the top two teams in women’s football on the African continent at the moment, the Super Falcons of Nigeria and their Bayana Bayana of South Africa counterparts as they clash in the final day of the Aisha Buhari Invitational Cup Competition.
Bayana Bayana triumphed 3-0 over the Black Queens of Ghana in securing their biggest victory in all nine meetings against the West African country’s female team while ending a six-match winless run against the Ghanaians in that Friday encounter.
It was just the type of morale boost the ladies from the Rainbow Nation needed ahead of coming against five-time African champions, Nigeria. South Africa’s coach Desiree Ellis, the reigning African Women’s Coach of the Year, thinks they have prepared enough to handle the Super Falcons.
Speaking ahead of their ABC high-profile showdown, she revealed: “We’ve got more footage of Nigeria playing other matches and we have to look at all of that to analyse because it’s different opposition. We have to make sure that we get the plan right.
“They got two late goals (against Mali), but we know what they (Nigeria) are capable of. They are not just the number one team in Africa for nothing and have shown the pedigree for many years. We have to remain at the top of our game and concentrated too.”
Although she refrained from specifically mentioning the squad selection she will go with, the former South Africa international vowed to put forward her very best legs in the bid to claim an upset win over Randy Waldrum’s charges on Tuesday.
Ellis confirmed this when she said: “We are always looking at playing other players and also win the game. We also want to put our best lineup on the field. Our players are always ready to step up. It doesn’t matter who gets chosen.
“We’ve shown that over the last couple of years that we trust the players and their abilities which is the most important thing. If the player gets given an opportunity I am sure they will rise up.”
Backing up her coach, Bayana Bayana team captain Janine Van Wyk believes that it will be a tough clash because of all that is at stake for both sides while relishing the challenge to go against the African champions again.
“I think everyone is exciting one to seeing the clash between South African and Nigeria once again and we never know what is going to happen. In terms of experience and what happened in 2018, it always going to be a tough competition between us because no team wants to lose rather but it’s going to be an exciting one.
“I think from the players’ perspective, we are extremely excited and I think everyone is excited to see the clash between South African and Nigeria once again.
“I’m looking forward to the game, we know it is gonna be tough cos Nigeria as well is not going to sit back and they’ll never want to lose too to South Africa likewise we as well. So we know we should give our very best till we get the victory.”
The Super Falcons lost to South Africa in the group stage of the 2018 TotalEnergies Africa Women’s Cup of Nations (AWCON) where Chrestinah Thembi Kgatlana scored the only goal of the game but Nigeria won the final against them through a shootout.
Kgatlana is anxious to help her side repeat that group victory. She said: “It is going to be an interesting game. We shocked a lot of people in 2018 in Ghana when we beat Super Falcons. I expect the game to be tough, but we are more attacking minded.”
The big game will kick off at 4.00pm local time and according to a statement issued by the NFF, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Governor of Lagos State is expected to lead the political elite to the final match that will include other high-profile elite to the closing ceremony.
Amaju Melvin Pinnick, Nigeria’s football governing body president and FIFA Council Member will also lead football’s top echelon that includes Fatma Samba Diouf Samoura, FIFA Secretary-General, and Aisha Johansen, a FIFA Council Member to the occasion.
In addition, CAF Executive Committee Member Kanizat Ibrahim and FIFA’s Head of Women Football, Sarah Bareman will also be in the executive box, alongside the full complement of NFF Executive Committee Members and Management.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
