South Africa’s women’s football coach, Desiree Ellis, says her team is ready to knock Nigeria out of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations once again just like they did in 2022.
The Super Falcons are preparing for a tense semi-final clash on Tuesday against a confident South African side. The two countries are longtime rivals in African women’s football and this match could be another thriller in their growing rivalry.
Ellis, the head coach of Banyana Banyana, believes history will repeat itself. She reminded reporters that her team defeated Nigeria during the group stage of the last WAFCON, then went on to lift the trophy after beating Morocco in the final.
“We have done it before and we believe we can do it again,” Ellis told CAFonline. “We know what’s ahead. We’ve faced them before, and we are not afraid.”
South Africa secured their place in the semi-final after a hard-fought battle with Senegal. The match ended 1-1 after regular time, but Banyana Banyana stayed calm during the penalty shootout and won 4-1.
Their goalkeeper came up big, making key saves when it mattered most.
Nigeria’s Super Falcons, on the other hand, booked their semi-final spot in style. They crushed Zambia 5-0 in a one-sided quarter-final. Led by captain Rasheedat Ajibade, Nigeria showed their trademark firepower and looked unstoppable throughout the game.
Now, both teams will face off in what promises to be one of the most watched matches of the tournament. Nigeria is chasing a 12th WAFCON title after missing out on the 2022 trophy, while South Africa is looking to defend their title.
