By Our Reporter
South Africa vs Nigeria: Super Falcons end 16-year drought to qualify for 2024 Olympics after aggregate win over Banyana Banyana
Nigeria have sealed a place at the 2024 Olympic Games after a hard-fought aggregate win over South Africa.
Nigeria’s Super Falcons have qualified for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris after edging fierce rivals South Africa 1-0 on aggregate following a 0-0 draw in Pretoria on Tuesday.
The win over South Africa gave Nigeria passage to the Olympic Games for the first time since 2008, ending a 16-year wait for participation in the competition.
How it happened
The Super Falcons brought a 1-0 lead into the second leg of the tie after winning the first leg in Abeokuta thanks to a solitary goal.
The first half was expectedly a cagey affair as both teams cancelled each other out and the second half played to a similar pattern as the Super Falcons held on for a crucial 0-0 draw against the hosts.
FULL TIME! in Pretoria
South Africa 🇿🇦 0-0 Nigeria 🇳🇬 (0-1 agg)
Nigeria breaks the Olympic jinx since 2008 with a 1-0 aggregate victory over South Africa, securing qualification! We are through to @Paris2024 🎉
The Super Falcons had their best chance of the match in the second half, but Uchenna Kanu’s effort went begging as the tie remained goalless.
Despite being the home side, South Africa’s attack was expertly marshalled by Nigeria, and the Banyana Banyana failed to create any real openings of note to threaten the Super Falcons.
In the end, Rasheedat Ajibade’s first-half goal in the home tie was enough to help Nigeria claim a place in Paris.