In a rivalry dating back to 1991, Nigeria had the better of Banyana Banyana on Friday in Oleh, south-west Nigeria, in a final Group A match having significance only in pride and passion.
FIFA’s World Player of the Year nominee, Super Falcon Cynthia Uwak scored twice to take Nigeria to the top of Group A on a maximum nine points.
The senior South African women’s team now goes through to the semis on six points to face Group B’s winners, the Black Queens of Ghana, and a trip to Oghara for the Tuesday match meaning a change of scenery for squad.
Bridgette Mohlale, in for game time in place of Banyana’s regular keeper Itumeleng Chimeloane, will be disappointed that the first two goals netted against SA in the tournament were scored on her watch, but such concern may have relevance only in the event that goal differences come into account at a later stage.
In the bigger scheme of things, South Africa’s stated intention of reaching the final still requires a win in the semi-final, and if that victory comes home, Friday’s match will simply be regarded as the best opportunity to prepare for the Championship’s most important confrontation.
“It was a great game; we are still on the right direction. No matter who we meet in the semi-final, we are prepared to compete with any team that comes our way,” coach Augustine Makalakalane was quoted on CAFOnline.com after the match.
In their next game, Banyana defenders might be less inclined to rely on the offside trap to upset attacks, but the team’s brains trust will be plotting their best route to victory on the team’s potential rather than in terms of vulnerabilities.
CAFOnline.com’s preview of the Nigeria vs South Africa ‘Grudge Match’ tellingly states “… skipper Portia Modise, hot-shot Veronica Phewa and veteran Jo-Ann Solomon are all in the form of their lives, and will want to emulate Ghana in 2002 by clinching their first victory over Nigeria.”
Banyana had the better of Ghana’s Black Queens 1-0 in the semi-finals of the 2000 Championships, and their most recent encounter in the group stages of the 2004 Championships was an emphatic 3-0 victory for South Africa.
But the two teams that will test this tournament’s semi-final might as well be comprised of new players, coaches and management, for all reliance that can be had on prior performances.
The Ghanaians must be viewed on current form, which looks like a steady improvement, having beaten Mali 1-0 first up, Cameroon 2-1 on Wednesday, and sinking the Democratic Republic of Congo’s hopes 3-1 on Saturday to qualify first in their group for a semi against SA.
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