Double Celebrations: Super Falcons Beat S'Africa 2–1, Qualify For AWC Finals, Book W’Cup Ticket

The Super Falcons beat South Africa’s Banyana Banyana 2-1 on Wednesday in Windhoek, Namibia to qualify for the final match of the 9th African Women Championship (AWC).

The meeting, which was a revenge mission for the Falcons – having lost to the South Africans at the same stage two years ago, lived up to its billing as an explosive encounter.

The semi-final match played at the Sam Nojuma Stadium in Windhoek started on a high tempo, but attempts at goal were not successful until Asisat Oshoala scored the first goal in the 38th minute and netted another in the 48th minute.

South Africa came back into the game in the 68th minute after a disputed goal halved Nigeria’s lead, even though it was not just enough as the Falcons hung on.

The Nigerian side thus kept up the record of qualifying for every FIFA Women’s World Cup since 1991, a record matched only by Brazil, Germany, Norway, Sweden and the U.S.

Nigeria will meet the winners of the other semi-final fixture between Cameroun and Cote D'Ivoire on Saturday for a chance to win the AWC title a record seventh time - They had won the competition almost every two years since its inception in 1998, except in 2008 and 2012 when Equatorial Guinea won the titles.

With the win, Nigeria has also qualified for the 2015 FIFA World Cup, which will hold in Canada.

The Nigeria Football Federation has said in a reaction to the Super Falcons Victory against South Africa on Wednesday that they are delighted and it is a cause for double celebrations.

The NFF Scribe, Musa Amadu, said they are delighted,

“We are very delighted for qualifying for the Finals of the African Womens Championship and in doing so they’re also the first African country to qualify for the FIFA Summer World Cup 2014 in Canada which is a cause for double celebrations and I’m quite confident that when they meet either Ivory Coast and Cameroon that they will win the cup unprecedented for the seventh time,” he said.

Reacting to the controversial goal awarded to the South Africans by the Centre Referee, Mr. Amadu said the referees was in charge and knew better.

“Every player that plays is at the discretion of the referees. She must have seen what some of us did not see that is why she allowed the goal.”

“But we thank God that the referees’ decision didn’t dampen the girls’ spirit. I’m happy they showed character and determination,” he concluded.