Nigeria’s Super Falcons will on Wednesday at the Sam Nujoma Stadium in Windhoek confront South Africa's Banyana Banyana in the semifinal clash of the ongoing 9th African Women Championship (AWC) in Namibia.
The encounter already tagged a rematch of the 2012 AWC semifinal duel at the Nkoantoma Stadium in Bata, Equatorial Guinea in which the Southern African side won with a slim 1-0 margin will see both sides fight for a spot in the forthcoming 2015 Fifa Women’s World Cup in Canada.
Though South Africa have been runners-up in the biennial football showpiece for a record four times in 1995, 2000, 2008 and 2012, they are yet to lift the coveted AWC trophy or qualify for the Fifa Women’s World Cup unlike their auspicious opponents, Nigeria who have won the continent’s diadem for a record six times as well as qualify for all of the editions of the quadrennial global football fiesta.
Prior to the 2012 AWC semifinal defeat in Equatorial Guinea, both sides met in a two-legged international friendly match. The Rustenburg leg in South Africa ended one goal apiece while the return fixture at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos ended in a goalless draw.
En route to the semifinal clash on Wednesday the Falcons kept a 100% record in their Group A games where they got wins over Ivory Coast, Zambia and hosts, Namibia to top the group while South Africa lost their opening Group B clash to Cameroon, drew the second game to Ghana and a massive win against Algeria ensured they finished as runners-up behind Cameroon.
The player, whose goal proved decisive to edge Nigeria in the immediate past championship, Janine van Wyk, now captain of her side, has vowed to further punish Nigeria when both sides meet on Wednesday in Windhoek, Namibia. She is not alone in the mission to down Nigeria as veteran striker, Portia Modise and midfield maestro, Amanda Dlamini have voiced their determination to make it double against Nigeria.
However, it waits to be seen how the South Africans will succeed in their near impossible mission with the no-nonsense stand of the Nigerians who are still aggrieved over the defeat and have vowed to make amend on Wednesday.
Defender, Onome Ebi, who incidentally was a member of the squad that lost to South Africa two years ago, has vowed to make amend of that painful defeat against South Africa by going all out for a convincing win as well as book the country’s passage to the World Cup in Canada.
“We lost to Banyana last time because we were not able to take our chances and they took theirs and converted their only chance to win. We’ve learnt our lesson and that will be our guiding principle when we meet on Wednesday in the semifinal.
“This match means so much to us. We know a win will give us a ticket to the Women’s World Cup aside from taking home the trophy so we will take the match as if it was the final. We’ve to revenge that loss and restore our pride as African queens. We just have to beat them to reach the final,” said the rugged defender, who plies her trade with Belarus’ Fk Minsk.
The head coach, Edwin Okon is more bullish in his expectations of the epic semifinal clash against South Africa.
“We’ve watched the South Africans play and are ready to face them in the semifinal. The players know the task at hand so we’ll approach the game with all sense of business,” said the former Falconets head coach.
Defender and captain of the side, Evelyn Nwabuoku said her teammates are out to revenge the defeat in the hands of South Africa in same stage of the championship two years ago in Equatorial Guinea.
“We’re aware of what happened the last time we met and we’ll never allow that to happen again when we meet on Wednesday. We’re focused and will go for victory,” said the Rivers Angels defender.
With the experienced goalkeeper, Precious Dede in goal for the Falcons alongside the finest attacking quartet of Asisat Oshoala, Desire Oparanozie, Esther Sunday and four-time Africa player of the year, Perpetua Nkwocha, South Africa will be lucky to come out of the clash unscathed.
The winners of the Nigeria, South Africa tie will confront the eventual winners of the clash involving Cameroon and Ivory Coast in the grand finale on Saturday. The best three teams of the biennial football showpiece will represent Africa at the 2015 Fifa Women's World Cup in Canada.
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