It was a case of so near yet so far for the Sasol-sponsored Banyana Banyana after they played to goalless draw against Nigeria in a winner-takes-all second leg of the fourth and final round of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games qualifiers on Tuesday, 9 April 2024 at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria.
Trailing 1-nil from the away leg played in Abuja (Friday, 5 April), the South Africans had more ball possession but could not penetrate the resolute Super Falcons defence, losing 1-0 on aggregate.
The result means the African Champions have missed out on the Olympic Games for the second time in a row, while the West Africans return to the global event after an absence of 16 years – their fourth appearance, the most for any nation. They were last at the tournament in Beijing in 2008.
In Pretoria, South Africa Head Coach Desiree Ellis had made two changes to the team that started in Abuja – with Noxolo Cesane and Nomvula Kgoale starting ahead of Hilda Magaia and Noko Matlou.
Spurred on by a small but noisy crowd on a chilly midweek evening, the hosts could not get going in the first half as their attempts were thwarted by the tall and strong Nigerian defenders.
Goalless at the break, pressure began to mount on Banyana Banyana, and they made several changes – Kgoale making way for Sinoxolo Cesane, Magaia checking in for Noxolo Cesane, Refiloe Jane replaced by Amogelang Motau while Fikile Magama took the place of the injured Lebohang Ramalepe.
No matter how much the home side tried in attack, the Nigerians were not rattled and managed to protect their first leg lead to claim victory at the final whistle.
“We knew that coming into this game we needed to score. We also knew that we needed to score as early as possible because the longer the game went on, we became desperate. We did not start well, we changed the formation slightly because we needed to score. We did not go forward as much as we wanted to in the first half, made a couple of changes in the second half and threw the kitchen sink at them. Unfortunately that elusive goal did not go in and for that we are very disappointed,” said Ellis after the match.
The result ensured that the West Africans’ history of not having lost in South Africa continued. Prior to these qualifiers, Nigeria had lost on two occasions to Banyana Banyana, but in Abuja and Pretoria history counted for nothing.
“I think we were just much better organized than the previous two times that we had played them and so that’s why I felt confident going into these two games. I know South Africa talked a lot before the two matches how they were going to do this and that and we just kept quiet, I felt like I believed in our team and I knew that we would be a hard team to break down even with their talent,” said Nigeria Head Coach Randy Waldrum.
“I am just extremely excited, I know how much it means to the fans of Nigeria, to the NFF and to all the people of Nigeria not to have qualified for 16 years.”
It was a bittersweet moment for one of Banyana Banyana’s long-serving defenders Lebohang Ramalepe who featured in her 100th match for South Africa.
The Limpopo-born player made her debut in 2004 in Zimbabwe and went on to play in two FIFA Women’s World Cup tournaments, the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. She has also won the CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, as well as several COSAFA Women’s Championships.
At the 2024 Olympic Games, Nigeria will be joined by Zambia after a Barbra Banda brace helped the Copper Queens overturn a 1-2 defeat from the first leg in Ndola. The USA-based forward scored twice against Morocco in Rabat for a 2-nil win (3-2 victory on aggregate) to ensure the Southern African nation makes a back-to-back appearance at the global sporting event. Zambia were the sole African representatives at the Tokyo 2020 edition.
Nigeria has been drawn in Group C alongside reigning world champions Spain, Japan, and Brazil. Zambia is in Group B and will face former FIFA Women’s World Cup winners, and four-time Olympic Games champions, the USA, as well as Rio 2016 champions Germany, and the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup hosts, Australia.
Group A has France, Colombia, and New Zealand.
This is how they qualified:
| Nation | Confederation | FIFA rank | Qualified via |
| France | UEFA | 3 | Host nation |
| Spain | UEFA | 1 | 2024 UEFA Women’s Nations League winner |
| Germany | UEFA | 5 | 2024 UEFA Women’s Nations League third place |
| United States | CONCACAF | 4 | 2022 CONCACAF W Championship winners |
| Canada | CONCACAF | 9 | CONCACAF Olympic playoff winner |
| Japan | AFC | 7 | 2024 AFC Olympic qualifiers |
| Australia | AFC | 12 | 2024 AFC Olympic qualifiers |
| New Zealand | OFC | 28 | 2024 OFC Olympic qualifying winners |
| Zambia | CAF | 65 | 2024 CAF Olympic qualifiers |
| Nigeria | CAF | 36 | 2024 CAF Olympic qualifiers |
THIS IS HOW THEY LINED UP IN ABUJA:
Banyana Banyana 11 vs Nigeria:
Kaylin Swart (GK), Karabo Dhlamini, Bongeka Gamede, Tiisetso Makhubela Noxolo Cesane (Hilda Magaia), Linda Motlhalo, Refiloe Jane (C) (Amogelang Motau), Nomvula Kgoale (Sinoxolo Cesane), Lebogang Ramalepe (Fikile Magama), Thembi Kgatlana, Jermaine Seoposenwe
Substitutes:
Regirl Ngobeni (GK), Katlego Moletsane (GK), Fikile Magama, Noko Matlou, Sinoxolo Cesane, Gabriela Salgado, Bambanani Mbane, Hildah Magaia, Sibulele Holweni, Lonathemba Mhlongo, Amogelang Motau
HEAD COACH: DESIREE ELLIS
Nigeria Super Falcons 11 vs Banyana Banyana:
Chiamaka Nnadozie (GK), Michelle Alozie, Chidinma Okeke, Christy Ucheibe, Osinachi Ohale, Jennifer Echegini (Esther Okoronkwo)Deborah Abiodun, Halimatu Ayinde, Rasheedat Ajibade (C), Uchenna Kanu (Rinsola Babajide), Chinwendu Ihezuo (Asisat Oshoala)
Substitutes:
Tochukwu Oluehi, Linda Jiwuaku, Ifeoma Onumonu, Asisat Oshoala, Toni Payne, Nicole Payne, Shukurat Oladipo, Jumoke Alani, Rinsola Babajide, Gift Monday, Esther Okoronkwo
HEAD COACH: RANDY WALDRUM
By Matlhomola Morake
