SUPER FALCONS GO FOR REVENGE AGAINST SOUTH AFRICA

BY APESIN ADEMOLA.

Ghanaians fans may be mourning the elimination of their team, the Black Queens at the group stage of the African Women’s Championship, but they will be gratified that two of the best clashes in the tournament are being taken round the two host stadiums in the country.

It was at the Cape Coast Sports Stadium that South Africa’s Banyana Banyana recorded a feat 13 days ago by beating the Super Falcons for the first time ever. That lone goal victory in Group B set the tone for the impressive run of the South Africans who not only topped the group but went on to dominate Mali, the Cinderella team of the competition, in the semi-final.

Both teams will now meet at the other venue – the Accra Sports Stadium in the Ghanaian capital – for the showpiece match this Saturday.

South Africa will like to prove that the result of the Cape Coast clash was not a fluke as they seek to arrive France for next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup as African champions. France 2019 will be South Africa’s first time at the world stage.

This is Banyana Banyana’s fourth time in the final of the competition. While the Super Falcons extinguished their hope in 2000 in Boksburg, located in South Africa’s East Rand of Gauteng province, with the host team abandoning the match in the 73rd minute while Nigeria led 2-0, Equatorial Guinea were the victors in the 2008 and 2012 final matches.

South Africa will count on Thembi Kgatlana, the revelation of the tournament, to again sting the Super Falcons. The 22-year-old striker, who plays for Houston Dash in the United States National Women’s Soccer League, converted the only goal in the defeat of Nigeria and is the leading scorer of the competition with five goals in the kitty.

Nigeria are however familiar to the global tournament having represented the continent in all seven previous editions.

The Super Falcons are aiming at a record-extending ninth title in Africa and will not take their opponents for granted.

Azizat Oshoala on three goals and Desire Oparanozie (two goals) will lead the charge for coach Thomas Dennerby’s charges.