Super Falcons soars into 13th WAFCON final after beating S’Africa’s Banyana Banyana

Nigeria has reached the Final of the 13th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.

This comes after the Super Falcons beat South Africa’s Banyana Banyana 2-0 in the semi-final in Casablanca on Tuesday, thanks to a late spectacular goal by defender Michelle Alozie.

The semi-final encounter got off to a bright start for Nigeria when Rasheedat Ajibade converted a first-half penalty, giving the Falcons a 1-0 lead.

Both teams fought tactically in the middle and other stretches of the park, with sets of players stifling one other at crucial moments.

South Africa struck back shortly after the restart, with Linda Motlhalo equalising from the spot in the 59th minute.

The goal swung momentum toward the defending champions, leaving Nigeria struggling to regain control for much of the second half.

The title-holders stepped on the throttle and nearly got another goal as substitute Cesane connected a brilliant pull-out past Nnadozie, but Ohale was in the right place to save the day for the nine-time champions.

Five minutes later, Banyana found their way to the front again, and Jermaine Seoposenwe’s floated ball rose narrowly over the sticks on the Nigerian side.

Towards the end, a tense moment saw both sets of players deeply concerned for the injured South African defender Gabriela Salgado, who was taken off the pitch holding her face.

Just as both teams were settling for extra time, in the added time of the second period, Alozie’s lofted ball from the Nigerian defence missed everyone, and Ihezuo and midfielder Deborah Abiodun wrong-footed Dlamini as the ball went untouched into the Banyana net.

With this hard-fought triumph, Nigeria charges into yet another WAFCON final, eyeing a record-extending 10th continental crown.

They will meet the winner of the Morocco–Ghana semi-final.