Banyana brace up for Falcons showdown

Banyana Banyana stalwart Nompulelelo Nyandeni says it will feel like a final when the team faces Nigeria in the semi-finals of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations on Tuesday. The rivals will meet at Stade Limbe Omnisport in Cameroon, with kick-off set for 7pm.

Banyana booked their place in the last-four with a 5-0 demolition job of Egypt, while Nigeria secured their spot following a 4-0 victory over Kenya. The result ensured the Nigerians finished top of Group B, which meant a meeting with South Africa.

“It is always a battle of the best when we face Nigeria. The rivalry between us started long before our days in the national team, and playing against the Super Falcons is always like a cup final, regardless of the stage of the tournament. In any case once you are in the last-four you can’t pick and choose. Those teams did not get there by fluke, and to get to the top you have to go past them,” said Nyandeni.

“It is not going to be an easy game and I am confident we can walk away with victory. We have beaten them before and, to do that again, we will have to play as a team.” It took us three matches to start scoring goals in this tournament, so our confidence levels are on a high after the win against Egypt.” Nyandeni added:

“We have been watching their matches since the start of the tournament, and will now analyse them with the technical team. They are a very balanced side, just like us, and they are not impossible to beat. If we settle early in the match, and follow our game tactics, then I believe we stand a good chance of overcoming them.” Cameroon will contest the other semi-final against Ghana at Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo in Yaoundé. Kick-off is at 4pm on Tuesday.