Nine-time champions Nigeria head into Tuesday’s titanic Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) semi-final against South Africa brimming with confidence and carrying an imposing record in the tournament’s knockout phase.

The Super Falcons stormed into their 13th WAFCON semi-final with a ruthless 5-0 demolition of Zambia in the quarter-finals—a performance that extended their remarkable record of reaching at least the last four in every edition they’ve contested.

This year’s run marks Nigeria’s 15th appearance in the WAFCON knockout stages, comprising 12 semi-finals and two quarter-finals.

Their overall knockout record now stands at 11 wins and 3 losses, with eight of those wins secured in regulation time, two via penalties, and three defeats—two in open play and one in a shootout.

Their only semi-final setbacks came in 2008 (1-0 to Equatorial Guinea), 2012 (1-0 to South Africa), and 2022, when hosts Morocco triumphed on penalties after a 1-1 draw.

However, Nigeria’s penalty shoot-out history remains solid with three victories (2008 quarter-final, 2018 semi-final, and 2018 final) and just one loss.

Tuesday’s clash in Casablanca will be the Super Falcons’ 13th semi-final. A victory will see them advance to a record-extending 10th final.

Coach Justine Madugu’s side has combined attacking flair with defensive solidity in Morocco, emerging as the only team yet to concede a goal at the tournament.

Justine Madugu has put up a team with strict discipline at the defence and an attacking prowess anchored on every striker in the squad.

Nigeria have now gone 383 minutes without shipping a goal at WAFCON—an achievement last matched in 1998.

The emphatic win over Zambia was Nigeria’s fifth time scoring five or more goals in a WAFCON knockout game.

Remarkably, five different players got on the scoresheet in that match, a feat last achieved in the 2014 group stage against Zambia.

 In total, seven different players have scored for Nigeria at this tournament— the highest tally since 2014 when eight players contributed goals.

Forward Chinwedu Ihezuo leads the scoring charts for the team with three goals, while goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie has had a quiet campaign, facing only two shots on target in four matches—highlighting the team’s dominance and defensive organisation.

Against Zambia, Nigeria did not face a single shot on target while registering seven themselves—an emphatic display of control and superiority.

As they prepare for a highly anticipated semi-final against arch-rivals and reigning champions South Africa, the Super Falcons will not only be seeking revenge for their 2022 opening match defeat but also to continue their march towards a 12th WAFCON title.

With history, form, and confidence on their side, Nigeria’s Super Falcons are poised for another chapter of continental glory.

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The Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) will witness yet another epic chapter in one of the continent’s fiercest football rivalries as Nigeria and South Africa clash in the semi-finals on Tuesday, July 23, at the Mohamed V Stadium in Casablanca. Kick-off is at 17:00 local time (16:00 GMT).

This mouthwatering encounter marks the 12th WAFCON meeting between the two continental giants and their eighth consecutive tournament clash since 2006.

Apart from the 1998 and 2004 editions, Nigeria and South Africa have met at every WAFCON since 2000, underscoring the intensity and consistency of their rivalry.

Their most recent face-off came in the group stage of the 2022 edition, where South Africa stunned the Super Falcons 2-1 with quick-fire second-half goals from Jermaine Seoposenwe and Hildah Magaia. Rasheedat Ajibade’s stoppage-time effort was not enough to salvage a point for Nigeria.

Despite that setback, Nigeria remain dominant in the overall WAFCON head-to-head with eight wins to South Africa’s three, including a dramatic penalty shootout victory in the 2018 final after a goalless draw.

Tuesday’s clash will be their fourth semi-final meeting. Nigeria triumphed in the 2002 (5-0), 2014 (2-1), and 2016 (1-0) semi-finals, while South Africa claimed a historic 1-0 win in the 2012 last-four encounter.

Notably, all three previous semi-finals were settled in regulation time.

South Africa, the reigning champions, are led by coach Desiree Ellis, who captained the team during their first-ever WAFCON meeting in the 2000 final — a 2-0 loss to Nigeria in Johannesburg.

Since taking over as coach, Ellis has guided Banyana Banyana to impressive results against Nigeria, including two victories and a draw in open play, although they fell short in the 2018 final via penalties.

Of the 11 WAFCON matches between the two teams, a total of 22 goals have been scored, with Nigeria netting 16 and South Africa 6.

Nigeria’s 5-0 win in the 2002 semi-final remains the biggest margin in the series, but recent clashes have been far tighter—each of the last six matches that produced a winner were decided by just a single goal.

Nigeria’s semi-final appearance also marks their second time facing the defending champions in WAFCON history; the first came in 2010 when they defeated title-holders Equatorial Guinea 4-2 in the final.

As Tuesday’s showdown looms, both teams will be chasing history—Nigeria aiming to reclaim the crown they last won in 2018, and South Africa seeking to stay on course to retain their title and assert their growing dominance in African women’s football.

With pride, legacy, and a place in the final at stake, Casablanca is set for an electrifying duel that could once again redefine the contours of African women’s football supremacy.

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Defending champions South Africa will aim to reach a third consecutive Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) final when they face arch-rivals Nigeria in Tuesday’s eagerly anticipated semi-final showdown in Casablanca.

Banyana Banyana’s march to the last four marks their 11th WAFCON semi-final appearance—second only to Nigeria’s 13.

With five wins and five losses in previous semis, South Africa will be looking to tilt the balance and book a place in their sixth final.

Victory would also see South Africa achieve a rare feat: reaching three successive WAFCON finals. Only Nigeria have managed that, with back-to-back finals from 1998 to 2006 and again from 2014 to 2018.

Under head coach Desiree Ellis, South Africa has become a model of consistency. This will be their third semi-final appearance in a row under her watch, following a 2-0 win over Mali in 2018 and a dramatic 1-0 victory over Zambia in 2022.

 Banyana Banyana are in safe hands under former skipper and now coach, Desiree Ellis.

Banyana Banyana went on to lift their first-ever WAFCON title in Morocco, and now seek to defend it.

The South Africans are riding an impressive 15-match unbeaten run in open play at WAFCON—just one shy of Nigeria’s all-time record of 16.

Their last regulation-time defeat came in 2016, a 1-0 semi-final loss to Nigeria, which they’ll be eager to avenge.

Ellis’ side has also dominated West African opposition in recent years, going unbeaten in their last seven WAFCON matches against teams from the region (W5 D2).

 In knockout play under Ellis, Banyana Banyana boast a perfect record in regulation time—winning all four of their direct knockout matches (vs. Senegal in 2018 and 2024, Tunisia in 2022, and Zambia in 2022), with five clean sheets in six outings.

Statistically, South Africa has been one of the most efficient sides at WAFCON 2024. They lead all semi-finalists in shots on target (24), while goalkeeper Andile Dlamini has made 13 saves in just three matches—surpassing her 2022 tournament total.

Dlamini has kept six clean sheets in nine WAFCON appearances, conceding only three times.

Coach Ellis also has another dependable option between the sticks—Kaylin Swart, who shut out Nigeria twice in 2018, first in a 1-0 group stage win and again in the goalless final that Nigeria eventually won on penalties.

South Africa have shown admirable discipline as well, committing the fewest fouls (36) among the semi-finalists, while being fouled 54 times—highlighting their composure and ability to draw pressure.

Their current run of four consecutive WAFCON knockout wins is the longest in their history. The last time they lost a knockout match was in the 2016 semi-final against none other than Nigeria.

Their overall knockout record now reads seven wins and five losses (including three penalty shootouts). Their only shoot-out victory came in this year’s quarter-final win over Senegal, having previously lost in 2006 (vs. Cameroon) and in the 2018 final (vs. Nigeria).

Now, with history and redemption on the line, Banyana Banyana must once again navigate the familiar challenge of toppling the Super Falcons—African football’s most decorated side.

It’s a battle of champions. Of records and revenge. And when Nigeria and South Africa take to the pitch in Casablanca on Tuesday, the whole continent will be watching.

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