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Tag: Super Falcons

  • Paris 2024: Super Falcons drawn in tough group as opponents emerge

    Paris 2024: Super Falcons drawn in tough group as opponents emerge

    The Super Falcons of Nigeria will do battle in group C of the Paris 2024 Olympic games female football event  alongside Brazil, Spain and Japan.

    It was gathered that the draws for the tournament were  already made before Super Falcons grabbed qualification ticket on Tuesday in Pretoria, South Africa and was only slotted into group C after the game ended.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Super Falcons secured qualification to the Olympic games for the first time in 16 years after playing 0-0 draw in South Africa but won 1-0 on aggregate.

    Recall that Rasheedat Ajibade converted a 43rd minute penalty to secure a 1-0 win in the first leg fixture held at the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja.

    The Paris Olympic football event will kick start on the 21st of July and run through August 2024.

  • Like Super Falcons, Copper Queens qualify for Paris 2024 Olympics

    Like Super Falcons, Copper Queens qualify for Paris 2024 Olympics

    Just like the Super Falcons of Nigeria, the Copper Queens of Zambia have secured a ticket for the 2024 Olympic Games set to hold in Paris, France late in the year.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Barbra Banda scored two goals for the Zambian girls in the second leg qualifiers fixture played at the Prince Heritier Moulay EL Hassan Stadium in Rabat to secure a win over Morocco to book the ticket for the Paris 2024 Olympics.

    Morocco had won the first leg played at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium, Ndola in Zambia, beating the Copper Queens 2:1. Zambia qualifies back-to-back on 3:2 aggregate.

    Lushomo Mweemba scored the lone goal for Zambia while Zineb Redouani and Rosella Ayane scored the two goals for Morocco in the first leg.

    The Copper Queens of Zambia will join the Super Falcons of Nigeria to represent the African continent at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

    The Super Falcons booked their ticket to the 2024 Paris Olympics after a tensed goalless draw against South Africa’s Banyana Banyana in Pretoria on Tuesday.

    The team had last Friday in the first leg pipped their South African counterparts 1-0, which ultimately secured their qualification for the Olympics in 16 years.

    Australian, Brazil, Canada, Colombia and France had qualified for the 2024 Olympics. Other countries that have secured qualification for the Paris Olympics are Germany, Japan, New Zealand, Spain and the United States of America.

  • Olympics jinx: What Sports Minister said after Super Falcons performance against South Africa

    Olympics jinx: What Sports Minister said after Super Falcons performance against South Africa

    Nigeria’s Minister of Sports, Senator John Enoh has hailed the performance of the Super Falcons against the Banyana Banyana of South Africa as historic.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the Super Falcons beat Bayana Bayana of South Africa 1-0 on aggregate to seal qualification for the Olympics for the first time in 16 years.

    The nine-time African champions defeated their South African rivals 1-0 in the first leg at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium on Friday before settling for a goalless draw in the return leg on Tuesday.

    The game  played at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria saw both sides attempt very few scoring chances, but it was Nigeria’s defence and goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie who kept the hosts at bay.

    Efforts by captain Thembi Kgatlana to open scoring for the hosts in the second half proved abortive as Nigeria’s wall stood tall to defend their lead on the day.

    Reacting, the Minister of Sports wrote via X (formerly Twitter): “The Jinx is broken

    “The Super Falcons of Nigeria have emerged victorious against Banyana Banyana of South Africa with an aggregate score of 1-0 in the final leg of the Olympic qualifying match held in Pretoria.

    “The Falcons kept a clean sheet and secured a historic victory after a sixteen-year drought. With this win, they have earned a spot in the Paris Olympics 2024.

    “Congratulations to the Super Falcons on their incredible achievement”.

    The result means Nigeria secure  the continent’s spot for the Olympics.

    Meanwhile, Nigeria is in Group C alongside World Cup champions Spain, Japan and Brazil in the Games billed for July 26 to Aug.11 in France.

  • BREAKING: Super Falcons break 16-year jinx to qualify for Paris 2024 Olympics

    BREAKING: Super Falcons break 16-year jinx to qualify for Paris 2024 Olympics

    The Super Falcons of Nigeria have qualified for the 2024 Olympic Games scheduled to be held in Paris, France later in the year.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the Super Falcons played a draw with the Banyana Banyana of South Africa in the second leg fixture of the Olympics qualifiers on Tuesday.

    The game played at the Loftus Versfeld stadium, Pretoria in South Africa ended 0:0 in favour of the Super Falcons, having pipped the Banyana Banyana by 1 goal in Abuja, Nigeria last week.

    The second leg fixture saw both sides attempt very few scoring chances, but it was Nigeria’s defence and goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie who kept the hosts at bay.

    Efforts by captain Thembi Kgatlana to open scoring for the hosts in the second half proved abortive as Nigeria’s wall stood tall to defend their lead on the day.

    TNG reports Falcons beat Bayana Bayana of South Africa 1-0 on aggregate in the two-legged encounter to seal qualification  for the first time in 16 years.

    The result means Nigeria secured the continent’s spot for the Olympics.

    Meanwhile, Nigeria is in Group C alongside World Cup champions Spain, Japan and Brazil in the Games billed for July 26 to Aug.11 in France.

  • Paris 2024: Oshoala set to feature against Banyana Banyana in Pretoria

    Paris 2024: Oshoala set to feature against Banyana Banyana in Pretoria

    Bay FC of United States striker, Asisat Oshoala has been cleared to face the Banyana Banyana of South Africa in today’s 2024 Olympic Games qualifier.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Oshoala missed the first leg after arriving camp  a day before the first leg fixture in Abuja.

    There were also concern over her fitness level as she trained separately from her teammates.

    Head coach, Randy Waldrum also refused to offer assurances on her availability for the return leg.

    But the African footballer of the year  according to reports, is now available to face the African champions after taking part in the team’s last two training sessions.

    The Super Falcons won the first leg 1-0 in Abuja courtesy of Rasheedat Ajibade 43rd penalty goal.

    The second leg fixture will be held at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria will kick-off at 6:30pm Nigeria time.

    The overall winner of this fixture will be one of Africa’s representatives at the Paris 2024 Olympics billed for July of this year.

     

  • Paris 2024: Ajibade wants Nigerians to believe in Super Falcons

    Paris 2024: Ajibade wants Nigerians to believe in Super Falcons

    Captain Rasheedat Ajibade has called on Nigerians to have confidence in the ability of the Super Falcons to earn a ticket to the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament in France, as the team flies to South Africa on Sunday night for a flaming battle with the Banyana Banyana in Pretoria on Tuesday night.

    Ajibade’s strike from the penalty spot earned Nigeria a lone-goal victory over the visitors in the first leg in Abuja on Friday, and even as there is all to play for in the return in South Africa’s administrative capital, the Atletico Madrid ace says the players will be propelled to victory knowing that the faith of over 200 million Nigerians in them is unwavering.

    “We are not under any illusions. It is going to be a big and tough fight. For us, we have 90 minutes standing between us and the long-elusive ticket to the Olympics and we will give it our all.

    “We want Nigerians to believe in the Super Falcons. The players are motivated by the keen desire to play in the Olympics. Personally, I have played at every tournament you can think of, except the Olympics. The time to do it is now.”

    The players trained in the premises of their hotel on Saturday morning and also trained at the MKO Abiola National Stadium on Sunday morning, before departing Abuja for Lagos aboard an Air Peace flight, to connect their flight to South Africa on Sunday night.

    Nine-time African champions Nigeria will arrive in Johannesburg on Monday morning, and then do a one-hour road trip to Pretoria. They are scheduled to have the official training at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium by 7.30pm (6.30pm Nigeria time on Monday.

    Chinwendu Ihezuo, Jennifer Echegini and Esther Okoronkwo had opportunities to add to the scoreline on Friday evening, but Banyana Banyana goal-tender Kaylin Swart affirmed her reputation as one of the best goalkeepers in African women football with some brilliant saves.

    Similarly, the Banyana must have realized and appreciated that the reputation of Nigeria’s number one, Chiamaka Nnadozie as one of the world’s best goalkeepers was no exaggeration, as she thwarted them the couple of times that they got past the defence. Jermaine Seoposenwe was particularly stunned by Nnadozie’s world-class save when she unleashed a belter from 20 yards after receiving a pass from Thembi Kgatlana. Kgatlana herself was foiled on a couple of occasions.

    The Banyana celebrated the low deficit after Friday’s encounter, but Nnadozie said the Super Falcons will play their hearts out inside the 51,000-capacity Loftus Versfeld Stadium.

    “The Super Falcons are used to big battles. This one will not be any different. Australia were playing in their home ground at the World Cup but we defeated them.”

    The goal-tender was referring to last year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup finals, when the Falcons edged the Matildas 3-2 in front of their home fans in Brisbane, and thus guaranteed a spot for themselves at the tournament’s Round of 16.

    Nnadozie was also in goal when the Falcons overwhelmed hosts Cote d’Ivoire 1-0 in a Women Africa Cup of Nations final qualifying match in Abidjan more than two years ago, and has also been in goal in the two earlier away matches in these qualifying series, in which the Falcons earned a 1-1 draw in Addis Ababa and 0-0 draw in Douala.

    Home turf advantage has severally been proved to be a mirage in football, even in the on-going qualifying series, with Zambia defeating Ghana in Accra, Morocco defeating Tunisia 2-1 away, South Africa trouncing Tanzania 3-0 in Dar es Salaam and Morocco also defeating Zambia 2-1 in Ndola in the first leg of their own final qualifying fixture on Friday.

    Ajibade added: “At the end of the day, the grass will be green and it will be eleven players against eleven players. We are ready.”

    The Confederation of African Football has again picked North African referees for the second leg match, with Tunisian Dorsaf Ganouati as referee and her compatriots Houda Afine and Emna Ajbouni as first assistant and fourth official respectively. Egyptian Yara Atef Said Abdelfattah will be second assistant referee.

    Agar Mezing from Cameroon will be the referee assessor while Cindy Dludlu from e-Swatini will be match commissioner.

    PHOTO 1: Rasheedat Ajibade evades a Banyana defender in Abuja on Friday.

     

    PHOTO 2: Algerian referee Ghada Mehat stands by striker Chinwendu Ihezuo after she was brought down for the penalty that Nigeria converted for the 1-0 win. 

  • Olympics Qualifiers: It is just `half time`– Bayana Bayana coach

    Olympics Qualifiers: It is just `half time`– Bayana Bayana coach

    Desiree Ellis, coach of South Africa’s female national football team, Bayana Bayana,  has described their 0-1 loss to the Super Falcons of Nigeria as “just half time”.

    Ellis said the first leg of the final Round of Paris 2024 Olympic qualifiers at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, Friday night was only a half time, with plenty to play for in the return leg in South Africa.

    A penalty converted by captain Rasheedat Ajibade in the 42nd minute was enough to separate both sides.

    At the end of the game, Ellis lauded his team’s efforts reiterating that a game against Nigeria would never be an easy one.

    “We knew it was going to be a tight game. We lost a couple of chances and the penalty decided the game. The game is not over but I am very proud of the team.

    “We need to have a look at the video footage and see where we can exploit because I thought that defensively we were very sound up until that penalty, we created a couple of chances.

    “We also have lots of players coming from injury and not playing out 90 minutes. They will be better in the second leg.

    “So for us, it’s just half time, we will be better in the next half,” she said.

    NAN reports that attention has immediately shifted to Tuesday’s return leg at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria.

    The Banyana will fly back to Johannesburg on Saturday morning while the Super Falcons will fly out of Lagos to South Africa on Sunday night.

  • Paris 2024: Why I didn’t feature Asisat Oshoala against South Africa – Randy Waldrum

    Paris 2024: Why I didn’t feature Asisat Oshoala against South Africa – Randy Waldrum

    Super Falcons coach, Randy Waldrum has opened up on reasons why female African footballer of the year and Bay FC of United States striker, Asissat Oshoala did not feature in yesterday’s Olympic qualifier against the Banyana Banyana of South Africa.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Super Falcons secured a slim victory over the South Africans courtesy of Rasheedat Ajibade’s 43rd minute penalty goal.

    Ajibade’s goal managed to be the only goal of the encounter as both goalkeeper made saves to deny opponents from scoring.

    Speaking during the post match conference, Waldrum said he didn’t feature Oshoala because she got to camp late and was suffering from jet lag.

    He added that he will assess her fitness level to be able to decide if the Bay FC striker would feature in the reverse feature coming up next week in Pretoria, South Africa.

    “Asisat just arrived camp and obviously and visibly she looks tired from the long travels she had, this explains why I didn’t feature her in the game.

    “I will access her fitness level to be able to decide if she will feature in the reverse fixture taking place next week in South Africa,” Waldrum said.

    The Super Falcons coach during the post-match media briefing at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, went further to say the team lost several scoring chances in spite of the lone goal victory over Banyana Banyana of South Africa on Friday in Abuja.

    Waldrum also said that it was unfortunate that the Super Falcons failed to score more than a goal in the match they dominated defensively.

    A well-taken 42nd minute penalty by Captain Rasheedat Ajibade separated both sides in the game. Nigeria, however, heads to the return leg in South Africa on Tuesday, hoping to pick a ticket to the Paris 2024 Olympics after 16 years of absence.

    “I thought we were a bit unfortunate not to have at least two or three goals victory tonight but I think the team played well. I thought we were good defensively considering we had some new players at the back as we missed players like Ashleigh Plumptre and Tosin Demehim.

    “I think the back four stood very strong. I can only remember two good opportunities that they (South Africa) had. Overall I thought we could have controlled the game well, try to finish up with the opportunities we had.

    “But the bottom line is, we have one game left and we have to get the result,” Waldrum said.

    Tuesday’s return leg at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria is still so much to play for with the Falcons only a goal up in the fixture.

    The Banyana Banyana will fly back to Johannesburg on Saturday morning while the Super Falcons will fly out of Lagos on Sunday night.

  • Paris 2024 qualifiers: We were ‘robbed’ PK against Super Falcons – Banyana Banyana Coach reacts

    Paris 2024 qualifiers: We were ‘robbed’ PK against Super Falcons – Banyana Banyana Coach reacts

    Coach of the Banyana Banyana of South Africa, Desiree Ellis has said her side could have equalised and maybe awarded a penalty in Friday’s Paris 2024 CAF women Olympic qualifiers against the Super Falcons of Nigeria.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Ellis said this during the post-match press briefing shortly after the Super Falcons thrashed the Banyana Banyana of South Africa by a lone goal at the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja, Nigeria.

    The Super Falcons defeated South Africa by a lone goal after Rasheedat Ajibade converted a penalty kick in the 43rd minute of the match.

    Chinwendu Ihezuo was through on goal but was brought down by Noko Matlou inside the area and the centre referee, Algerian Ghada Mehat blew her whistle and pointed straight to the spot in favour of Nigeria.

    Outstanding goalkeeper Kaylin Swart had to work overtime to deny the hosts from extending their lead. Despite creating numerous chances for an equaliser, the game ended 1-0 in favour of the Super Falcons.

    However, Ellis, speaking during the post-match press briefing, felt South Africa could have been awarded a penalty kick when Nigerian goalie, Chiamaka Nnadozie bumped into Jermaine Seoposenwe in the dying minutes of the game.

    “Penalty decided the match. We could have equalised and maybe we could have gotten a penalty when Jermaine was fouled,” the Banyana Banyana gaffer said.

    Ellis, nevertheless, praised her players for their efforts in the game and insisted that the game was not over.

    “We are still in the game. Look, we said it was going to be a tight game but we are hopeful of overturning this result in the second leg.

    “In the first half, we played too far from each other but we despite played what we wanted to play. In the second half, we started creating good chances.

    “The game is not over. I am very proud of my team and we will take it back to Pretoria,” Ellis said.

    Banyana Banyana will have to give it all in the second leg of the CAF Women’s Olympic qualifier against the Super Falcons of Nigeria.

    The two African giants will lock horns for the second leg on 9 April 2024 at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria where Coach Ellis’ charges will be hoping to overturn the deficit.

  • Super Falcons vs South Africa: Coach Waldrum picks Ihezuo as MOTM

    Super Falcons vs South Africa: Coach Waldrum picks Ihezuo as MOTM

    Nigerian Super Falcons coach, Randy Waldrum has picked Chinwendu Ihezuo as man of the match of Friday’s Paris 2024 CAF women Olympic qualifiers against the Banyana Banyana of South Africa.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Super Falcons thrashed Banyana Banyana by a lone goal after Rasheedat Ajibade converted a penalty kick in the first half of the game.

    Ihezuo was through on goal but was brought down by Noko Matlou inside the area and the centre referee, Algerian Ghada Mehat blew her whistle and pointed straight to the spot in favour of Nigeria.

    Speaking during the post-match press briefing at the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja, Waldrum described Ihezuo’s performance as brilliant and fantastic.

    “For me, Chinwendu is the man of the match. She was fantastic up front. Her hold of play was brilliant. She tracked every ball down whether she had the chance to get it or not.

    “For every ball, she put the defenders under unrest and that is what you want from a striker. For a player who put that kind of work in, she is outstanding.

    “We knew she would do well. I have been following her up in Mexico. She is doing very well this season. She was great,” Waldrum said.

    TNG reports after Ajibade’s penalty goal, all efforts to score in the match proved abortive for both sides as both goalkeepers made dashing saves at the two ends.

    The result means that the Super Falcons will be travelling to South Africa with a slim win for the reverse fixture holding next week.

    The overall winner of the two legged encounter will grab a slot to be one of Africa’s representatives at the 2024 Olympic games slated to be held in Paris, France.