The Nigeria Women’s National Team has commenced its residential camp ahead of their deciding 2024 Paris Olympics qualifier against South Africa.
According to the Nigeria Football Federation, the team entered camp on Sunday to fine-tune for the match against Banyana Banyana.
Their star maker, Asisat Oshoala played 60 minutes for Bay FC in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) prior to the international break. Racheal Kundananji, a striker from Zambia, took Oshoala’s position in that game.
Falcons captain and Atletico Madrid forward, Rasheedat Ajibade, is among the early birds as the team begins preparation for the game against the reigning African champions.
Three players are likely to report to camp today (Monday): Spain-based attacker Gift Monday, Japan-based Chidinma Okeke, and veteran goalkeeper Tochukwu Oluehi. It is expected that the remaining players would arrive by Tuesday.
The first leg of the encounter will take place at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, on Friday, with the second leg slated for the Loftus Versfeld Arena in Pretoria five days later.
The last meeting between the two giants ended in a 2-1 win for South Africa at the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON). The Falcons have struggled to beat Banyana Banyana in open play, with the 2018 Africa Cup final ending goalless before Nigeria triumphed 4-3 on penalties.
READ ALSO: Morocco’s winning streak threatened by Zambia’s Copper Queens.
South Africa had defeated Nigeria 1-0 in the tournament’s group stages, while Banyana Banyana had fallen to the Falcons in the 2016 WAFCON semifinals, losing by a narrow 1-0 margin.
