Falcons aim to break Olympics jinx, battle Banyana in Abuja

Following a protracted wait, the Super Falcons and Banyana Banyana will square off this Friday, April 20, in a competition to secure a spot in the women's football competition at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

Unquestionably the two greatest women's football teams in Africa, South Africa and Nigeria will compete in a two-leg match for one of the two African tickets to the women's football competition at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.

The first of two games will be played on Friday at Abuja's Moshood Abiola National Stadium, with the second game taking place in Pretoria, South Africa on Tuesday, April 9.

South Africa is keen to move over their disappointment from 2020—having missed out on qualifying for the Olympics in Tokyo—while Nigeria hopes to return to the Olympics after a 16-year hiatus, having last competed in the women's football event in Beijing in 2008.

With so much on the line, today's matchup promises to be one of the most exciting in African women's football history.

Falcons captain Rasheedat Ajibade stated in a pregame speech that the team was committed to ending the extended wait.

"We have been dedicated to completing these qualification series from the moment we played Ethiopia," Ajibade stated.

"We have always wanted to be the ones to secure an Olympic slot. A major problem for the majority of the team is that we have not yet participated in an Olympic Games. We want to be in Paris at that time.

"The Super Falcons need to resolve a few concerns with Banyana Banyana. But this time, that isn't the driving force. The goal is to make it to the Olympics.

Goalie Chiamaka Nnadozie also made a plea to supporters of the Falcons to swarm the stadium before the game.

"We want our supporters to attend the stadium and show their support." There is no team that the Super Falcons fear. We will play with complete confidence and win with their help," she declared.

For the match in Abuja, Randy Waldrum will be without the injured Ashleigh Plumptre and Tosin Demehin.

Despite acknowledging the importance of both players to the squad, the American strategist stated that he had excellent backup players to finish the job.

"Those two guys are dear to us and significant players; our prayers and thoughts are with them. It would be a significant loss to lose those two defence pillars.

"Getting them well and making sure they'll be alright are my first thoughts and concerns, but we've been working on those plans because I believe a coach should always have a backup plan. I believe we have players who are prepared to take over and carry out the task for us. I think I have faith in the squad's depth and that they can step in and finish the task for us.

As a sign of the game's importance, Banyana travelled to Abuja on Sunday to get used to the local climate.

Since learning they would be facing the Falcons, the African champions have not stopped talking, with some players even going so far as to call the game a "do-or-die" situation.
Defender Lebohang Ramalepe remarked, "Remember, this is a do or die kind of game. Both of us missed the last Olympics."