WAFCON: BAYANA BAYANA DEFEATS SUPER FALCONS 2-1 IN OPENING GROUP C MATCH

South Africa’s Bayana Bayana edged Nigeria’s Super Falcons 2-1 in the Group C opening 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations encounter in Rabat.

The Nigeria team in character did look rusty in the opening stage of the first half as the Super Falcons struggled to carve a goal bound chance. Again, the exchange of passes was not cohesive in thoughts as the long ball to the strikers was always off from the box.

With South Africa playing a little better orgainsed game, Bambanani Mbane having a perfect check Asisat Oshoala in the defense and most through ball played by the Super Falcons was cut -off on goal.

The later stage of the match at half an hour saw the Super Falcons gaining some confidence moving the ball to the opponent half. The exchange of play obviously was begging for the referees whistle to end the first as both side could not convert their chances to goal.

On resumption of the second half, the reigning Aisha Buhari Football Championship, Bayana Bayana took over control of the game tempo. It paid- off in the hour mark to register a goal through Seoposenwe after Cesane had done a good work.

Nigeria worked! Responding through building attack from the defense but the ball was always wide- off the box and the crosses from the wing players was poor.

The Desiree Ellis led side realising the urgency to respond with a counter attack, two minutes later Thembi Kgatlana latched a good pass to Hilda Magia and she wasted no time slotting beyond rushing Nigeria’s goalkeeper Tochukwu Oluehi for the second goal.

Top striker Asisat Oshoala was substituted as she had bandage in her right leg and she actually called the attention of the medical team. The game was stopped for few second, on resumption, the long ball from Nigeria defenders was wide- off the box of the opponent with the Super Falcons strikers lacking the push.

Nigeria got a consolation within the extra two minutes added time as Rasheed Ajibade calmly converted a pass from teammate to pull one back for Super Falcons, 2-1. The Bayana Bayana held on the lead until the referee’s final whistle.

Assessing the Nigeria team! In character of play, obviously the current Super Falcons team lacks offensive intent to high scoring side, compare to the team that won the title for Nigeria in 2018 final.