logo
Alozie goal gives Nigeria 2-1 win over South Africa in Women's Africa Cup of Nations semifinals

Alozie goal gives Nigeria 2-1 win over South Africa in Women's Africa Cup of Nations semifinals

CASABLANCA, Morocco (AP) — Michelle Alozie's long ball bounced into the goal in stoppage time to give Nigeria a 2-1 victory over South Africa on Tuesday and send the Super Falcons into the final at the Women's Africa Cup of Nations.
Nigeria will play the winner of the late match in Rabat between host Morocco and Ghana for the title on Saturday.
The Super Falcons have won nine WAFCON titles. Disappointed by their fourth-place finish in the 2022 tournament, the Super Falcons dubbed their goal to win this event as 'Mission X.'
Alozie, who plays in the National Women's Soccer League for the Houston Dash, sent the ball forward from distance four minutes into stoppage time. Although two teammates were in front South Africa's net, neither of them touched the ball as it bounced into the goal.
Rasheedat Ajibade, who plays for Atlético Madrid, converted a penalty just before halftime to put Nigeria ahead 1-0. The Super Falcons were awarded the penalty because of a handball in the box.
South Africa, the defending WAFCON champions, pulled even on Linda Motlhalo's penalty in the 60th minute.
Nigeria, which had not previously conceded a goal in the tournament, routed Zambia 5-0 in the quarterfinals to advance. South Africa, led by coach Desiree Ellis, advanced on penalties after a scoreless draw with Senegal.
There was a scary moment in the 84th minute when South Africa midfielder Gabriela Salgado went down with an injury and players from both teams frantically gestured for help.
Salgado was stretchered off with her left leg heavily wrapped as her teammates sobbed. The crowd at Stade Larbi Zaouli chanted her name.
___
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Hobbled at home, Nigerian sportswomen dominate abroad
Hobbled at home, Nigerian sportswomen dominate abroad

Yahoo

time5 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Hobbled at home, Nigerian sportswomen dominate abroad

As Nigerian women dominate sports on the continent, they're facing off not just against top talent abroad but a domestic atmosphere of mismanagement and pay disparities -- and even the risk of repression for speaking out. Nigeria is fresh off a win at the finals of Women's AfroBasket, their fifth-consecutive championship at the continent's top hardwood tournament, while last month the Super Falcons clinched their 10th Women's Africa Cup of Nations football title. The football team's successes in particular have come in the face of pay disparities compared to their male counterparts -- when they get paid at all. The women receive a training camp allowance but the bulk of their pay comes from per-match bonuses, which vary depending on the team's results. Both the women's basketball and football teams have been plagued by late or unpaid match bonuses for years, despite their records as arguably the best teams on the continent. But when the Super Falcons landed in Abuja after their 3-2 WAFCON victory over host Morocco last month, none of the players answered questions shouted by an AFP reporter in the press scrum about whether they would ask the president, who was welcoming them at his villa, about being paid the same as the men's team. Nigerian journalists on the scene said the question was useless: it was far too politically charged. "If you speak up against what's going on, you completely lose the possibility of getting what you're entitled to, you could actually be blacklisted," Solace Chukwu, senior editor at Afrik-Foot Nigeria, later told AFP. - Strikes over late payments - Not that there aren't clashes: in 2021, basketballers called out the authorities when they topped Africa, protesting against unpaid match bonuses. The Nigeria Basketball Federation at the time denied any wrongdoing, blaming the issue on clerical errors. Like the basketball team, the women's football team has found remarkable success, stemming in part from the country's population of more than 200 million -- the largest on the continent, complemented by a widespread diaspora. They also benefited from early investments in women's football at a time when other African countries focused on men's teams, Chukwu said, helping the Super Falcons win the first seven editions of the WAFCON, from 1991 to 2006. Yet they only played a handful of test matches before they landed in Morocco for this year's competition, cobbled together at the last second. The Super Falcons haven't been completely silent in the face of mismanagement and disinterest from authorities. But rocking the boat too much appears to come with a cost. "Players who lead or dare to protest... always risk not being invited or sidelined outrightly," said Harrison Jalla, a players' union official. After Super Falcons captain Desire Oparanozie -- now a commentator -- led protests over unpaid wages at the 2019 Women's World Cup, she was stripped of her captaincy and was not called up for the 2022 tournament. Former men's coach Sunday Oliseh -- who himself was let go from the national squad amid protests over backpay in the early 2000s -- called the situation a case of "criminal" retaliation. The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) at the time denied that it dropped Oparanozie over the protests. The NFF and the Super Falcons did not respond to an AFP request for comment on the allegations that players are afraid to speak out. - 'Sky is the limit' - Players still have hopes for women's sports to expand. "I think the sky is the limit," Nigerian point guard Promise Amukamara told AFP in Abuja, fresh off her AfroBasket win. "Obviously, more facilities should be built around Nigeria. I feel like maybe, one year we should host the AfroBasket." Aisha Falode, an NFF official, meanwhile, called on the government to "invest in the facilities, invest in the leagues and the players, because the women's game can no longer be taken lightly". Despite the challenges, women's sports are still finding a foothold among younger fans. Justina Oche, 16, a player at a football academy in Abuja, told AFP that the exploits of the team inspired her to pursue a career in the sport. "They say what a man can do, a woman can do even better," said the youngster, whose role model is six-time African Footballer of the Year Asisat Oshoala. "The Super Falcons have again proved this." sam-nro-adl/sn/kjm

Nigeria's champion women basketballers promised $100,000 each
Nigeria's champion women basketballers promised $100,000 each

Yahoo

time7 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Nigeria's champion women basketballers promised $100,000 each

Members of Nigeria's national female basketball team are to receive a cash reward of $100,000 (£75,000) each following their victory at the Fiba Women's AfroBasket Championship over the weekend in Ivory Coast. At a special reception held in honour of the team, known as D'Tigress, Vice-President Kashim Shettima also promised each player a three-bedroom flat. Nigeria defeated Mali 78-64 on Sunday to win their seventh AfroBasket title, which also secured them a spot at next year's Fiba Women's World Cup. A similar bonus was promised to the national female football team, the Super Falcons, last month after they won the recent Women's Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon). Members of D'Tigress's coaching and technical crew were also promised $50,000 each and a flat during the reception at State House in the capital, Abuja. "Nigerian women have never failed this nation in sports. From the Super Falcons standing tall on the world stage, to our athletes breaking records on the track, and D'Tigress building a basketball dynasty, our women have consistently made us proud," President Bola Tinubu said in a statement. "To all our young people watching today, let the story of D'Tigress remind you that greatness is a product of hard work, discipline, and belief. Nigeria belongs to those who dare to dream and are willing to give their best to make those dreams a reality." There have been been mixed reactions to the promises of cash prizes - with some feeling it is unsustainable considering the country's troubled economy. Though the question on the lips of most Nigerians is: how long will it take for them all to get their rewards? Previous promises like this have taken years to come to fruition. Two months ago, the government finally fulfilled its 31-year-old pledge to give houses to the 1994 Super Eagles football squad after they won the Africa Cup of Nations in Tunisia. Some members of that team, including Nigeria's all-time highest goal scorer Rashidi Yekini and then-captain Stephen Keshi, died before receiving the promised reward. More BBC stories on Nigeria: I no longer identify as Nigerian, Badenoch says Aid cuts will push Nigerians into arms of Boko Haram militants, UN warns Buhari - the austere Nigerian military ruler who defeated a sitting president Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica BBC Africa podcasts Focus on Africa This Is Africa

CHAN 2024 – Group B: Madagascar and Mauritania share the spoils (0-0)
CHAN 2024 – Group B: Madagascar and Mauritania share the spoils (0-0)

Yahoo

timea day ago

  • Yahoo

CHAN 2024 – Group B: Madagascar and Mauritania share the spoils (0-0)

CHAN 2024 – Group B: Madagascar and Mauritania share the spoils (0-0) No winner was found between Madagascar and Mauritania as both teams kicked off their CHAN 2024 campaign with a goalless draw this Saturday, August 3, in Dar es Salaam. The Barea got off to a bright start. Captain and midfield maestro Dax Andrianarimanana tried to spark things early, but his night was cut short in the 39th minute. After picking up a second yellow card, Madagascar was reduced to ten men. Down a man, the Malagasy fought valiantly. Their goalkeeper, Michel Ramandimbisoa, shone with several crucial saves. Solid and disciplined, Rakotondrabe's men held firm until the final whistle. Mauritania pushed hard for a breakthrough. Moctar El Hacen thought he had won it late on, but his strike whistled just past the top corner. Despite dominating possession, the Mourabitounes couldn't find the finishing touch. This draw leaves both teams level in what is shaping up to be a wide-open Group B.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store