5 April is the date for the first leg of the final round of the Fourth Round CAF Women’s Paris Olympic Qualifiers, when Nigeria will host South Africa at the MKO Abiola National Stadium in Abuja for a massive clash in the latest battle in one of Africa’s greatest women’s football rivalries.
Here’s a comprehensive update from the two camps as we look ahead to this showdown.
Banyana get down to business ahead of crunch Olympic qualifier
Banyana Banyana’s preparations for the CAF Women’s Olympic showdown against Nigeria are in full swing as the countdown to the blockbuster match continues.
The Sasol-sponsored South African senior women’s team travel to Abuja in the first leg to tackle Nigeria on 5 April before welcoming their traditional rivals at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on 9 April 2024.
There are currently 23 players in the local-based camp and they are without goalkeeper Andile Dlamini, who withdrew from the team due to medical reasons. Samkelisiwe Selana has also been withdrawn due to an injury.
Dlamini will be replaced by Regirl Ngobeni while Selana was replaced by Mmabatho Mogale of JVW FC. Ellis has made another addition and Mamokgaase Senyatsi of TUT FC has joined camp. She was not part of the preliminary list announced a few days ago.
Ellis was impressed by what she saw after the first official training session, and she further emphasised the importance of managing the load for the players.
“It really looks good, the enthusiasm and the intensity,” she said. “We spoke about how big this game is in our welcome meeting and it shows that everyone is up for it. It was a good session and we had to manage the load since some players played on Thursday and on Sunday.”
Ellis said trimming the squad from the initial 30 players she announced in the preliminary list a few days ago to the final 23 will not be easy, but she added that the camp for the local contingent will give the Banyana Banyana technical team a bit of time to test out combinations.
“We still have a couple of days before the final squad announcement, so I have to make sure that I get the combinations right. I have to make absolutely sure because it won’t be an easy game against Nigeria. They have shown their quality over a period of time and they are still a quality team, so we have to be at our absolute best.
“We have to make sure that we get the combinations right as well as the mix of youth and experience right.”
Ellis will announce her final squad for the two-legged qualifier against Nigeria on Thursday, 28 March 2024.
Star-Studded Super Falcons Squad Announced
Super Falcons head coach Randy Waldrum has called 22 players for the do-or-die fixture, a star-studded squad that includes Paris-based goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie as well as African Player of the Year Asisat Oshoala while Rasheedat Ajibade who plays for Atletico Madrid FC in Spain will captain the side.
The regulars in Waldrum’s squad are Ashleigh Plumptre, Osinachi Ohale and USA-based Deborah Abiodun. The Super Falcons will welcome in-form forwards in NWSL star Uchenna Kanu and Esther Okoronkwo of UD Tenerife in Spain.
Notable recalls have been made for 2019 World Cup star Chidinma Okeke, a defender that has mastered protecting the keeper and forward Chiwendu Ihezuo, while U20 defender Shukurat Oladipo earns her first invitation.
The reverse fixture will hold at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria on Tuesday, April 9, where the winner of the tie will secure one of Africa’s two tickets to the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament.
Banyana Banyana v Super Falcons tickets go on sale
Tickets for the crucial return match between Banyana Banyana and the Super Falcons of Nigeria at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on 9 April have gone on sale at all TicketPro outlets as well as at Spar.
“Put on your yellow national team regalia. We want Loftus to be buzzing on the day!”
SAFA CEO, Lydia Monyepao
The tickets will also be available at the stadium and are going for R50 adults and R20 for children.
The return match will take place on Tuesday, 9 April and kicks off at 19h30. Gates will open at 17h00. The first leg will take place in Nigeria on 5 April 2024.
For the home return match, fans are urged to come out in their numbers to support the senior women’s football national team, with promises of prizes to be won, including meeting a favourite Banyana Banyana player!
Football draw for Football at Paris Olympics
The draw for football at the Paris 2024 Olympics was unveiled at the Le Pulse Building in Saint-Denis, Paris with the global spectacular looming.
The winner of the Nigeria vs South Africa match will compete in Group C at the Paris Games. The tough group includes Spain, Japan and Brazil.
Ellis announced a preliminary 30-member squad a few days ago and the team went into camp on 25 March 2024 in preparation for the showdown against their long-time rivals.
The final 23-player squad for the Olympic qualifier will be finalised when Ellis names the team in the coming days.
Meanwhile, the Australian women’s football team has been drawn in Group B, alongside four-time Olympic champions USA and the Rio 2016 gold medalists Germany.
The fourth team will be from Africa, with either Zambia or Morocco to be confirmed after the CAF Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) concludes next month.
Football at the Paris 2024 Olympics will be played from July 24 to August 10 across seven different venues. However, the finals will be played in Paris at the Parc des Princes football stadium.
Women’s Football Groups Unveiled for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games
Group A: France, Colombia, Canada, New Zealand
Group B: USA, (African team), Germany, Australia
Group C: Spain, Japan, (African team), Brazil
The Preliminary 30-player Banyana Banyana Squad for the CAF Women’s Olympic Qualifier
Goalkeepers
Regirl Ngobeni
Kaylin Swart
Katlego Moletsane
Dineo Magagula
Defenders
Karabo Dhlamini
Fikile Magama
Asanda Hadebe
Tiisetso Makhubela
Boitumelo Rasehlo
Lonathemba Mhlongo
Bambanani Mbane
Noko Matlou
Lebogang Ramalepe
Bongeka Gamede
Midfielders
Linda Motlhalo
Refiloe Jane
Lesego Nkoane
Sibulele Holweni
Nonhlanhla Mthandi
Mmabatho Mogale
Amogelang Motau
Nomvula Kgoale
Sinoxolo Cesane
Forwards
Gabriela Salgado
Nicole Michael
Jermaine Seoposenwe
Noxolo Cesane
Hildah Magaia
Thembi Kgatlana
Nthabiseng Majiya
Nigeria Full List of Invited Players
Goalkeepers
Chiamaka Nnadozie (Paris FC)
Tochukwu Oluehi (Shualat Alsharqia FC, Saudi Arabia)
Linda Jiwuaku (Bayelsa Queens)
Defenders
Osinachi Ohale (Pachucha Club de Futbol, Mexico)
Ashleigh Plumptre (Ittihad Ladies, Saudi Arabia)
Shukurat Oladipo (FC Robo Queens)
Michelle Alozie (Houston Dash, USA)
Nicole Payne (Portland Thorns FC, USA)
Chidinma Okeke (Mynavi Sendai Ladies, Japan)
Midfielders
Deborah Abiodun (University of Pittsburgh, USA)
Halimatu Ayinde (FC Rosengard, Sweden)
Christy Ucheibe (SL Benfica, Portugal)
Jennifer Echegini (Juventus Ladies, Italy)
Rasheedat Ajibade (Atletico Madrid FC, Spain)
Toni Payne (Sevilla FC, Spain)
Forwards
Omorinsola Babajide (Coasta Adeje Tenerife Egatesa, Spain)
Esther Okoronkwo (Changchun FC, China)
Ifeoma Onumonu (SLC Utah, USA)
Asisat Oshoala (Bay FC, USA)
Uchenna Kanu (Racing Louisville, USA)
Gift Monday (Coasta Adeje Tenerife Egatesa, Spain)
Chiwendu Ihezuo (Pachucha Club de Futbol, Mexico)
Original Copy: Safa.net, with editing by gsport
Photo Caption: Head Coach Desiree Ellis addresses the media with news that Andile Dlamini and Samkelisiwe Selana are to miss the crunch qualifier after being withdrawn for injury, resulting in call-ups for Regirl Ngobeni and Mmabatho Mogale, with the addition of Mamokgaase Senyatsi, as the Sasol-sponsored Banyana Banyana prepare for the crucial Africa Olympic qualifier opening leg in Abuja, Nigeria, on 5 April, 2024. Photo: Banyana Banyana
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