Road to Paris 2024: Super Falcons set to sustain record of never losing to Banyana in South Africa

Posted : 08 April 2024

Nigeria Super Falcons are now ready to tackle South Africa in a thrilling match in Pretoria on Tuesday night with the aim of maintaining their record of never having lost to South Africa in that country in senior women’s football.

The gap has narrowed significantly since March 19th, 1995, when the Super Falcons defeated the Banyana 7-1 in front of their own fans in Johannesburg in a 1995 FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifying match. Nevertheless, the fact remains that the Banyana are still seeking their first victory over the Falcons in any match played in South Africa.

In 24 previous encounters (with seven played in South Africa), Nigeria has won 15, with five ending in draws and South Africa winning on four occasions. One of the drawn games was the final match of the 11th Women Africa Cup of Nations, which Nigeria eventually won 4-3 after a penalty shootout in Accra.

South Africa’s four wins have been in Bata, Equatorial Guinea (1-0, 2012 Women AFCON); Cape Coast, Ghana (1-0, 2018 Women AFCON); Lagos, Nigeria (4-2, Aisha Buhari Cup); and Rabat, Morocco (2-1, 2022 Women AFCON).

Of the seven previous encounters inside South Africa, Nigeria has won five, drawing two. The only times the Banyana have been able to hold the Falcons in South Africa were on March 12th, 2004 (Athens Olympics qualifier which ended 2-2) and a friendly match on June 3rd, 2012 that ended 1-1.

The Super Falcons’ delegation for Tuesday’s crucial match arrived in Pretoria on Monday morning and has settled into their hotel ahead of their official training at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Tuesday night.

Tuesday’s match will kick off at 7:30 PM South African time (6:30 PM Nigeria time).

Nigeria’s last two goals against the Banyana have been scored by captain Rasheedat Ajibade. She got the consolation goal in the 2-1 defeat by the arch-rivals in Rabat on July 4th, 2022, and also converted the penalty that accounted for the win over the visitors in Abuja on Friday evening.

Super Falcons vs Bayana Bayana head-to-head:

4 Mar 1995: Nigeria 4 South Africa 1 (WCq)
19 Mar 1995: South Africa 1 Nigeria 7 (WCq)
25 Nov 2000: South Africa 0 Nigeria 2 (WAfcon)
18 Dec 2002: Nigeria 5 South Africa 0 (WAfcon)
30 Mar 2003: South Africa 0 Nigeria 3 (Friendly)
11 Oct 2003: Nigeria 1 South Africa 0 (AfGames)
12 Mar 2004: South Africa 2 Nigeria 2 (Oq)
28 Mar 2004: Nigeria 1 South Africa 0 (Oq)
9 July 2007: South Africa 2 Nigeria 2 (AfGames)
18 July 2007: South Africa 0 Nigeria 4 (AfGames)
28 July 2008: Nigeria 5 South Africa 0 (Oq)
12 Aug 2008: South Africa 0 Nigeria 1 (Oq)
22 Nov 2008: South Africa 0 Nigeria 1 (WAfcon)
4 Nov 2010: South Africa I Nigeria 2 (WAfcon)
3 June 2012: South Africa 1 Nigeria 1 (Friendly)
23 June 2012: Nigeria 0 South Africa 0 (Friendly)
7 Nov 2012: South Africa 1 Nigeria 0 (WAfcon)
22 Oct 2014: South Africa 1 Nigeria 2 (WAfcon)
29 Nov 2016: Nigeria 1 South Africa 0 (WAfcon)
18 Nov 2018: South Africa 1 Nigeria 0 (WAfcon)
1 Dec 2018: Nigeria 0 South Africa 0 (WAfcon) – Nigeria triumphed 4-3 penalties
21 Sept 2021: Nigeria 2 South Africa 4 (Aisha Buhari Cup)
4 July 2022: South Africa 2 Nigeria 1 (WAfcon)
5 April 2024: Nigeria 1 South Africa 0 (Oq)

Road to Paris 2024: Super Falcons set to sustain record of never losing to Banyana in South Africa

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