South Africa & Nigeria reach Wafcon semi-finals

by Staff Reporter

Friday Jul 15, 2022. 11:00

With the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final stage coming to its conclusion this week, South Africa and Nigeria advanced to the semifinals on Thursday night, as Tunisia and Cameroon fell short.

Banyana Banyana faced a spirited Tunisian outfit at the Moulay Hassan FUS on Thursday and came away with a narrow 1-0 victory in the process.

South Africa saw much of the ball during the early exchanges of the encounter and had numerous chances presented to them, as they began the game on a lively note.

Jermaine Seoposenwe’s persistence at applying pressure to the Tunisian centre-backs paid off in the 13th minute as she capitalised on a miscued clearance. Through on goal, the attacker found herself one-on-one with the goalkeeper as she calmly slotted the ball behind the net.

South Africa were again afforded a number of chances to put the game beyond Tunisia, however, Seoposenwe’s solitary strike was enough for Bayana to advance to the next stage of the tournament.

Elsewhere, Nigeria and Cameroon battled for a place in the last four at the State Mohammed V stadium.

Nigeria showed more attacking impetus in the first 45 and continuously found themselves breaching the Cameroonian defence, while winning a couple of set-piece opportunities along the way.

In a crucial phase in the game, Nigeria took the lead four minutes before the hour mark, as Rasheedat Ajibade was picked out in the box with a pin point cross before accurately heading the ball into the back of the net.

Following Thursday’s results, Banyana and the Super Falcons secured their places at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup which will be held in Australia and New Zealand.

Results:

Thursday, 14 July

South Africa 1-0 Tunisia

Nigeria 1-0 Cameroon

WAFCON semifinals

Monday 18 July

South Africa vs Zambia

Nigeria vs Morocco