The Super Falcons will renew their fierce rivalry with South Africa’s Banyana Banyana on Thursday, as both teams battle for another route to the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Key Highlights
- Super Falcons face Banyana Banyana: Nigeria will battle South Africa on Thursday for another chance to qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
- Match details: The encounter will be played at the Moulay Rachid Stadium in Casablanca, with kick-off at 9pm.
- Second World Cup opportunity: Both teams were eliminated in the quarter-finals of the 2026 WAFCON and must now go through the Inter-Confederation Playoff Tournament pathway.
- Nigeria seeking another victory: The Falcons will aim to repeat their 2-1 victory over South Africa in the 2025 WAFCON semi-final, where Michelle Alozie scored the decisive stoppage-time goal.
- Nigeria holds the historical advantage: The Falcons have recorded 17 competitive wins against South Africa, compared with four victories for Banyana Banyana.
- South Africa have challenged Nigeria: Banyana Banyana defeated Nigeria at the 2012, 2018 and 2022 WAFCON tournaments, highlighting the growing competitiveness of the rivalry.
The highly anticipated encounter will take place at the Moulay Rachid Stadium in Casablanca, with kick-off scheduled for 9pm.
The match comes after both sides suffered quarter-final exits at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, leaving them with a second opportunity to secure a place at next year’s global tournament through the Inter-Confederation Playoff Tournament.
The Falcons will enter the contest determined to repeat their success against Banyana Banyana from last year’s WAFCON semi-final, when Nigeria secured a dramatic 2-1 victory in Casablanca.
Defender Michelle Alozie scored the decisive goal deep into stoppage time after both teams had converted penalties in a tense encounter.
Nigeria have historically dominated the rivalry, although South Africa have emerged as one of the Falcons’ most difficult opponents in recent years.
Banyana Banyana defeated Nigeria at the 2012, 2018 and 2022 editions of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
Overall, however, Nigeria have won 17 of their previous competitive encounters against South Africa, with Banyana recording only four competitive victories.
The two teams also met during the qualification race for the 2024 Olympic Games. Nigeria edged the two-legged contest 1-0 on aggregate, with captain Rasheedat Ajibade’s penalty in Abuja proving decisive.
South Africa later defeated Nigeria 2-1 in the opening match of the 2022 WAFCON, before the Falcons gained revenge with their dramatic 2-1 semi-final victory in 2025.
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Ajibade is expected to lead the Nigerian side once again, while South Africa will look to the attacking threat of Thembi Kgatlana.
Coach Justin Madugu will also be looking for greater efficiency in front of goal after the Falcons created several chances but failed to find the net against Cameroon’s Indomitable Lionesses in their quarter-final encounter.
With the stakes considerably higher, Nigeria will need to convert their opportunities against a South African side equally determined to keep its World Cup hopes alive.
Nigeria vs South Africa recent history recorded:
– 1995: Nigeria 4-1 South Africa — World Cup qualifier
– 1995: South Africa 1-7 Nigeria — World Cup qualifier
– 2012: South Africa 1-0 Nigeria — WAFCON
– 2014: South Africa 1-2 Nigeria — WAFCON
– 2016: Nigeria 1-0 South Africa — WAFCON
– 2018: South Africa 1-0 Nigeria — WAFCON
– 2018: Nigeria 0-0 South Africa — WAFCON; Nigeria won 4-3 on penalties
– 2021: Nigeria 2-4 South Africa — Aisha Buhari Cup
– 2022: South Africa 2-1 Nigeria — WAFCON
– 2024: Nigeria 1-0 South Africa — Olympic qualifier
– 2024: South Africa 0-0 Nigeria — Olympic qualifier
– 2025: Nigeria 2-1 South Africa — WAFCON
The latest meeting promises another tense chapter in one of African women’s football’s biggest rivalries, with a place in the pathway to Brazil 2027 at stake.
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