A goal from team captain, Rasheedat Ajibade was the breather as Nigeria emerged victorious over the Banyana Banyana of South Africa at the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja, Soccernet.ng reports.
Coach Randy Waldrum called Pachuca forward, Chinwendu Ihezuo, into the Falcons’ starting lineup as Asisat Oshoala couldn’t complete the team’s training sessions due to a late arrival.
Ihezueo came close to breaking the deadlock inside five minutes after a ball from Jennifer Echegini found her in space, but her effort went wide. She headed towards goal from a Chidinma Okeke cross in the 18th minute, but the outcome of her attempt was the same as the first.
Her resilience paid off with four minutes left before the half-time whistle. A mazy run from the 26-year-old striker saw South Africa’s Niko trip her in the box.
Atletico De Madrid Femenino winger, Rasheedat Ajibade, stepped up to take the resulting spot-kick. The Nigerian winger sent the ball to the right-hand side of the goal. South Africa’s Kaylin Swart got a hand to it, but it wasn’t enough to keep the ball from going in.
The second started with Nigeria piling the pressure on. Ajibade sent Uchenna Kanu through on goal in the 52nd minute, but the Racing Louisville FC striker sent her attempt wide.
As time went on, the 11-time WAFCON winners started to play it safe to avoid conceding any goal and prevent silly mistakes that could cost them when they face South Africa next week.
🏁 FULL TIME! in Abuja 📍
Nigeria 🇳🇬 1-0 South Africa 🇿🇦
Rasheedat Ajibade 43′
First leg ✅ Still to come, second leg in Pretoria on April 9!
Abuja, thanks for your support!
📱#SoarSuperFalcons| #NGARSA| #CAFWCQ| #Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/gsqytQuIfg
— NGSuper_Falcons (@NGSuper_Falcons) April 5, 2024
Randy Waldrum was without two of his important players in defence and he will be glad his team held the forte at home, leaving the fate of the tie to the return leg in South Africa when both sides meet again on Tuesday.
Nigeria will hope their one-nil advantage is enough when they travel to the Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria to take on Desiree Ellis’ team on Tuesday, April 9.
N.B: We want to know your thoughts. Do you think Nigeria played well against South Africa? Let us know in the comments.