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BBC News
a day ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Nigeria vs South Africa Wafcon semi-finals match preview
Nigeria and South Africa go put leg for one trouser for di Women Africa Cup of Nations, Wafcon, semi-finals. Di Super Falcons of Nigeria wey be nine-time champions and di Bayana Bayana of South Africa wey be di defending champions go renew dia rivalry for dis match. Evritin dey to play for, di Super Falcons get 'Mission X' and dem wan go evritin to win dia 10th title. Di Bayana Bayana get 'Mission title defence' to keep di trophy wey dem win for 2022. Super Falcons Coach, Justin Madugu and Desiree Ellis wey win di Caf Best Coach of di Year, Women category dey expected to show dia tactics for di match wey go suit dia missions. Any team wey win dis match go qualify for di finals wey go happun on Saturday July 26, 2025. South Africa dey hope to beat Nigeria as dem bin do for 2022 while Nigeria dey hope to revenge dia 2022 loss. Match facts Dis na di 12th time wey dem dey meet for Wafcon and dia 8th meeting back to back since 2006, na for 1998 and 2004 dem no meet each oda. Nigeria get upper hand for dia history of Wafcon. Dem bin don beat South Africa eight times wey include one penalty shootout for di 2018 final while South Africa win three. Dia first eva Wafcon meeting na for di 2000 final wen Nigeria beat hosts South Africa 2-0. Di Current South Africa Coach Desiree na di captain dat time. For di 2002 semi-final, Nigeria bin win 5-0 , na dia biggest win eva against dia rivals South Africa. Nigeria and South Africa don jam five times for di group stage. Wetin di coaches tok Super Falcons coach, Justin Madugu say "We don prepare well, di girls dey good and determined, dem be a good team, dem dey prepared" Im add say South Africa get a veri good team and dem must appreciate and respect wetin dem don do from dia first game reach dis stage. Di Super Falcons say wit di performance of im players, e dey hard for am to pick im first eleven sake of say all of dem sabi wetin dem dey do. "E no easy to pick first eleven, wen you get ladies wey evribody dey show desire, evribody wan play and evribody dey work , and you kon say out of 21 na only 11 go start e no easy. Sometimes you go just dey look dem dey watch. Na why you go dey watch evritin wey dem dey do so dat you fit pick one small tin wey go give one player advantage, na dos small small tins wey be say no be for inside field sef na im you go take decide who you go start wit." For South Africa Coach Desiree Ellis, she no tink say dem need to tell di new players anytin about di Nigeria and South Africa rivalry. "Di motivation wey we get no be to just play Nigeria but na say we dey semi-final, wen e come to semi-final, na more of mental work and believe say you fit overcome. Evri game dey different , na different game, different tournament and three years down di line wey we last beat Nigeria, we no dey look back, we dey look forward and we need to step up to do di job."
News24
2 days ago
- Sport
- News24
Nigeria v Banyana: ‘They took the crown from us, we want to do the same'
Nigeria head coach Justin Madugu has labelled South Africa as favourites ahead of their Wafcon semi-final, citing their consistency and current champion status. Tuesday's clash marks the 12th Wafcon meeting between the nations, with Nigeria holding historical dominance but South Africa showing recent ascendancy. Both coaches, Madugu and Desiree Ellis, are operating without formal contracts, highlighting administrative challenges within their respective federations. For more rugby news, go to News24 Sport's dedicated section. Nigeria head coach Justin Madugu has labelled South Africa as favourites ahead of their Women's Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) semi-final clash in Casablanca on Tuesday – a bold adds fuel to an already fiery rivalry. Set to unfold at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium, this semi-final marks the 12th Wafcon meeting (24th overall) between the Super Falcons and Banyana Banyana – Africa's top two women's national teams. While history leans heavily in Nigeria's favour, recent trends have shown that the gap has narrowed significantly. Nigeria, nine-time champions of the competition, have won eight of those previous 11 Wafcon encounters against South Africa, scoring 16 goals to Banyana's five. READ | Banyana's resilience, courage keeping Afcon fairytale alive Yet, the reigning champions from South Africa are no longer the underdogs they once were. South Africa memorably beat Nigeria in the group stage of the 2022 edition before going on to lift their first Wafcon title. Madugu's comments, whether mind games or genuine admiration, acknowledge the evolution of Desiree Ellis's side. The narrative heading into this titanic clash is layered with storylines – revenge, redemption and respect. 'They have a very good team. For them to have won all their games to get them to where they are, obviously, we must appreciate and respect what they have done. So, we are not taking that for granted. 'You know football games can be very deceiving sometimes. You don't judge teams based on what you see, particularly in their last game – yes, they have played four games, and we have seen it. But I keep saying, each game comes with change; their approach might not be the same. 'But the prestige is equally there, so we are not looking at them as underdogs. They will be favourites as defending champions. They took the crown from us, and we want to do the same.' While the Super Falcons and Banyana Banyana are long-standing rivals on the pitch, their journeys off it mirror each other in striking ways. Both national teams have had to navigate tense political undercurrents and recurring disputes with their governing bodies – the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the South African Football Association (SAFA) – particularly around issues of unpaid bonuses and lack of support. Incredibly, as they prepare to face off in a high-stakes semi-final, both head coaches, Madugu and Ellis, find themselves in similar contractual limbo. Neither are currently operating under a formal deal with their respective federations – a situation that highlights deeper systemic issues but also underscores their quiet resilience. Despite the uncertainty, Madugu and Ellis have led with remarkable composure, galvanising their respective squads and driving them to the brink of continental glory. For Madugu, he is opting to keep his troops calm and focused on preparing for the game instead. 'With every game, there will always be pressure. The pressure of wanting to win, wanting to do well and the opposition also comes with some extra pressure. 'But we are managing ourselves well. We are not allowing to distract or unsettle the team. The girls are fully focused. We all know what is at stake and we'll make our country happy.' Nigeria will enter Tuesday's semi-final with an attacking edge and momentum. They have scored nine goals in four matches, second only to hosts Morocco (10). The Super Falcons brushed aside Tunisia (3-0), edged Botswana (1-0), and were held to a goalless draw by Algeria to close their group stage campaign. But it was their dominant 5-0 quarter-final victory over Zambia that reaffirmed their credentials as tournament heavyweights. South Africa, meanwhile, have taken a less convincing but determined path. A 2-0 win over Ghana opened their account before a frustrating 1-1 draw with Tanzania disrupted their rhythm. A 4-0 rout of Mali restored some confidence, but they were dragged into extra-time and penalties by a physical Senegalese outfit in the last eight. Banyana held their nerve in the shootout, eventually advancing 4-1, keeping their goal tally at seven – the third-highest of the competition. While Nigeria have dazzled with flair and firepower, Banyana have ground out results with grit, structure and a bit of luck. For Nigeria's star forward, Esther Okoronkwo, she's not bothered by the opponent. 'We go into every game with the same mentality and the same motive to want to win regardless of the opponent that is in front of us,' she said. 'We're prepared and ready to go tomorrow. We're not looking at team stats or however they did, we're focused on what we're going to do.' Kick-off is at 18:00 (SA time) on Tuesday.
BBC News
10-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Nigeria vs Botswana Wafcon match preview
Nigeria Super Falcons go play dia second group game for di Women's Africa Cup of Nations, Wafcon, tournament against Botswana on Thursday. Di West African nation go clash wit dia southern Africa opponents for di Larbi Zaouli stadium, Casablanca, Morocco. Dis match dey important for di two teams sake of say e go give dem a clue as di group stage go be. If Nigeria beat Botswana, e go secure dia place for di next round wey be di quarter-finals. But if Botswana win, e go put Nigeria under pressure to win dia last match. Botswana need dis match too sake of say dem lose dia first match against Algeria and dem need to win Nigeria to stand a chance to qualify for di next round. Nigeria beat Tunisia 3-0 for dia first match while Botswana lose 0-1 to Algeria. Nigeria and Botswana go meet for di second time for di Women's Africa Cup of Nations. Dem meet for di first time for di group match of di 2022 Wafcon. Nigeria beat dem 2-0. Wetin di coaches tok Nigeria Head Coach of Nigeria, Justin Madugu say di way wey dem dey prepare for evri match dey different becos all di games no be di same. "Concerning preparations, we dey okay and we dey good to go." Nigeria number one goalkeeper, Chiamaka Nnadozie say, "we respect our opponents, we bin play dem for 2022 and we know say dem go come wit different style, we go try our best to make sure say we tin and get all di three points." Botswana Head Coach of Botswana, Basimanebotlhe Alex Malete wey don dey coach di team since 2023 tell tori pipo for di pre-match press conference say di match between Nigeria and Botswana na big opportunity and im go like to take di opportunity. "We no start di tournament veri well, I believe say tomorrow [Thursday] we need to make evri moment, evri second from di first whistle count." Botswana goalkeeper, Sedilame Maitumelo Bosija tell tori pipo for di presser say, "we go push so dat pipo fit actually see say we dey ready to win." Match facts Botswana Dem don currently lose four matches back to back for di Wafcon finals. Dia last three defeats for di finals na by one-goal margin [di play-off matches for 2022 no follow]. Dia last Wafcon victory na against Burundi for di 2024 opener. Dem neva get clean sheet for di finals bifor, sake of say dia opponents dey score for evri match. Botswana don score just one goal for dia last four Wafcon matches - and na for dia 2-1 quarterfinal loss to Morocco for 2022. Nigeria Nigeria don now win dia last three Wafcon group games, and na nine goals dem score wit clean sheet. If dem win, e go mark Nigeria first back-to-back victory to start a tournament since 2014. If dem keep clean sheet, e go be di first time Nigeria go unbeaten for opening two matches since 1998. Na only three times dem bin fail to win dia second group game, 2-2 vs Cameroon (2004), 0-0 vs Tunisia (2008), 1-1 vs Ghana (2016). Na only two times Nigeria no score for dia second group match wey be di 2002 loss to Ghana and di 2008 draw wit Cameroon. Asisat Oshoala also don score her 14th career Wafcon goal. She don score for all di four editions since 2014.
CAF
06-07-2025
- Sport
- CAF
WAFCON – Nigeria-Tunisia: The Eagles' Momentum Against the Green Wall
In the setting sun of Casablanca, the Larbi Zaouli stadium is preparing to host a Group B opening clash brimming with history and revenge. This Sunday (5 p.m. local time), Nigeria, the nine-time record African champions, kick off their campaign against Tunisia, a team undergoing a major overhaul but refusing to approach this match as the underdog. Nigeria, the perennial favourite who want to reclaim their crown With nine continental titles in 12 editions, the Super Falcons continue to advance with the glorious weight of their record. But while the numbers speak for themselves—176 goals scored in 61 WAFCON matches, 45 wins, and only seven losses—yesterday's certainties have given way to more nuanced signals. Indeed, the Nigerians have lost their last two opening matches at the WAFCON, each time against South Africa (1-0 in 2018, 2-1 in 2022). They have not won their opening match since 2016. And while their dominance against North African opposition is clear (25 goals scored, only one conceded in six matches), their last head-to-head encounter with Tunisia in 2008, ended in a 0-0 draw. A memory that is still vivid for both sides. Despite this, coach Justin Madugu remains calm: "This squad is prepared to go all the way. There is a collective dynamic, depth in every position, and key players like Rasheedat Ajibade who can turn a match around." The Atlético Madrid player embodies this new Nigerian generation that combines experience and explosiveness. "We know that every tournament is a new challenge. We respect Tunisia, but we are aiming for the top," she says with a smile. Tunisia, a quiet ambition For Tunisia, the equation is simple: do better than in 2022 when the team reached the quarterfinals for the first time in their history. Since then, the Tunisian Football Federation has implemented a fundamental reform. "We are in phase B of a five-year project aimed at structuring the women's national teams from U15 to A," explains coach Kamel Saada. "This squad has been renewed with an experienced foundation of talent but also a lot of youth." Facing the Nigerian giants, the Carthage Eagles want to offer something other than a low block and timid counterattacks. "We have our tactical skills. We do not come as underdogs. We want to get a result," insists Saada. Sabrine Ellouzi, the team's attacking leader and top scorer in qualifying with seven goals, shares the same determination: "This WAFCON is different. In 2022, it was a discovery. Today, we know what to expect. There is more maturity, more camaraderie." Ellouzi perfectly embodies this renewal. Both an instinctive striker and the conductor of a dressing room under reconstruction, she also cultivates another passion: cooking. "Publishing a cookbook is like scoring a goal. You have to work as a team, just like on the pitch," she says humorously. A personal touch for a team seeking to forge a strong identity, combining rigor and freedom. A Duel of Formations and Vision of the Game Beyond the pitch, this encounter is also the fruit of two schools of thought. "We share a lot with the Nigerian staff, particularly a training program focused on technical development," notes Kamel Saada. "But our Tunisian uniqueness is tactical discipline." In reality, Tunisia should offer a midfield with a desire to emerge cleanly. Nigeria, for their part, will certainly impose a high tempo, relying on the verticality and impact of their wingers. If the Super Falcons open the scoring early, the match could get heated. If the Tunisians hold out for an hour, doubts could set in. Ajibade warns: "We shall have to be patient, clear-headed and efficient. We want to start this WAFCON on a solid footing." This Sunday, these two teams face their destinies. For Nigeria, it is an opportunity to reassert their dominance. For Tunisia, it is an opportunity to shake up the hierarchy.
BBC News
06-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Wafcon 2024: Nigeria vs Tunisia match preview
Nigeria Super Falcons go start dia Women's Africa Cup of Nations campaign on Sunday. Dem go face Tunisia for dia opening Group B match wey go shele for di Larbi Zaouli stadium, Casablanca. Dis na di second time wey dem dey meet for di Women's Africa Cup of Nations. Di only time dem bin meet before na for Wafcon 2008 wen dem play goalless draw, for Bata, Equatorial Guinea. Nigeria Coach, Justin Madugu say "We dey prepare veri well and di girls dey respond positively ...we dey good to go!." Coach Madugu add say dem need to show respect to evri team wey qualify for dis finals. "We no dey take anybody forgranted sake of assumption say we don win all our previous games against nort African teams becos e go dey easy, no game dey easy" im conclude. Super Falcons Captain Rasheedat Ajibade say "evritin dey go well, di backroom staff dey make sure say dem do evritin to make di team respond positively, we dey do evritin to make sure say we perform well for all our games". Head coach of Tunisia Kamel Saada say "Nigeria get good players and Tunisia get good team even though dem no dey experienced. but we fit start well against Nigeria. Nigeria na favourite but as far say we [Tunisia] qualify we fit get sometin out. Match Facts Nigeria According to Caf data, Nigeria don play 61 matches for Wafcon finals, dem win 45—more dan any oda team. Dia record include 9 draws and 7 defeats. Nigeria na di highest scorer for di tournament history wit176 goals for 61 matches, wit di average of 2.89 goals per game and dem concede only 28. Dia record for Wafcon opening matches na eight wins , two draws and two losses for di 12 games wey dem bin don play. Dia biggest opening-game win na 8-0 victory against host Morocco for 1998. Nigeria have bin score 40 goals across dia 12 tournament openers and concede 8— and six na for dia last five opening games. Na only one time don don fail to score for dia opening match, and na1-0 dem lose to South Africa for 2018. Nigeria neva lose any of dia opening games across dia first 10 appearances (W8 D2), but dem bin lose dia opening match for di last two tournaments—1-0 and 2-1 defeat to South Africa for 2018 and 2022. Before dem lose dem bin win four straight openers (2010–2016). Tunisia For Tunisia dia record for opening matches na one win and one loss out of two games. Dem bin lose 2-1 to South Africa for dia 2008 opener. Dia only Wafcon win na for dia 2022 opening match wey dem beat Togo 4-1. Dem no score for dia last four finals matches and na 372 minutes e be in total witout a goal. Tunisia bin keep two clean sheets for eight final games—both against West African opponents (Nigeria for 2008, Senegal for 2022). Dia only group-stage draw na di 0-0 result against Nigeria for 2008. Live match commentary go start by 4pm Nigerian time
