Lineups, stats and 3 predictions

All roads lead to the Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria for the South Africa vs Nigeria Super Falcons 2024 Summer Olympics second leg play-offs on Tuesday night.

Nigeria will carry a 1-0 advantage from the first leg last Friday. A lone strike from the penalty spot by Rasheedat Ajibade shortly before half-time, decided the contest in Abuja.

The second leg promises to be a cracking battle between two teams who had a good outing at the last FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia.

Coach Desiree Ellis’ team will give it their all as they aim to overturn the slim deficit. The question is, will Banyana Banyana get the goals and also completely keep the Super Falcons at bay?

It’ll be interesting to see which of these sides makes the Summer Olympics when it’s all said and done.

🚨NEXT MATCH🚨

We are back home for the 2nd leg of the CAF Women’s Olympic qualifier!

⚽️🇿🇦🆚️🇳🇬
🗓️Tuesday,09 April 2024
🏟️Loftus Versfeld
⏰19:30 (CAT)
🎟️ https://t.co/epxNjoLTk0

See you at Loftus Versfeld! 💪🏽💚💛#LiveTheImpossible #NotDoneYet pic.twitter.com/VOyMmMTCjN

— Banyana_Banyana (@Banyana_Banyana) April 6, 2024

South Africa vs Nigeria Super Falcons probable lineups

We expect both coaches to put their best players on display. With that in mind, here’s how we think both teams will line up:

South Africa

Goalkeeper: Kaylin Swart
Defenders: Karabo Dhlamini, Bongeka Gamede, Noko Matlou, Tiisetso Makhubela.
Midfielders: Hilda Magaia, Linda Motlhalo, Refiloe Jane, Lebohang Ramalepe.
Forwards: Thembi Kgatlana, Jermaine Seoposenwe.

Nigeria

Goalkeeper: Chiamaka Nnadozie.
Defenders: Michelle Alozie, Chidinma Okeke, Christy Ucheibe, Osinachi Ohale.
Midfielders: Jennifer Echegini, Deborah Abiodun, Halimatu Ayinde, Rasheedat Ajibade.
Forwards: Uchenna Kanu, Asisat Oshoala.

Credit: @NGSuper_Falcons X

South Africa vs Nigeria Super Falcons match stats

• Nigeria boasts a slight head-to-head advantage over South Africa with four wins to three in their last seven meetings.
• Clashes involving these sides have registered zero draws in their previous seven games.
• The last six competitive meetings between these teams went below the 2.5 goal threshold in five matches.
• Three of their last seven skirmishes ended without clean sheets.
• The last time both teams met in the Olympic qualifiers in South Africa was in 2004, and it ended in a 2-2 stalemate.

South Africa vs Nigeria Super Falcons 3 match predictions

South Africa will tackle Nigeria in a much anticipated match in Pretoria on Tuesday night. Below are three predictions for the cracking game.

Prediction 1: Nigeria to win or draw

It may interest you to know that the Super Falcons have not lost to Banyana Banyana when both sides have faced each other in South Africa.

Both teams have met seven times in the Rainbow Nation, with Nigeria winning five times and registering two draws.

The last time the giant of African women’s football played Banyana Banyana at their home turf in the Olympic qualifiers was in 2004, a clash which ended 2-2.

Going by this, we fancy the Super Falcons not to lose on Tuesday.

Prediction 2: Both teams to score

It’s important to point out that one of the seven previous meetings between them was a friendly game, while the rest were competitive skirmishes. Three out of those seven matches ended with both teams on the score-sheet.

We strongly expect their eighth battle to even this goal-goal market because it’s a high stakes encounter that if South Africa scores first, the Super Falcons will have to also score to maintain their aggregate advantage.

Prediction 3: Over 2.5 total goals

Granted, only two of their last six competitive meetings went over the 2.5 goal mark, still, we’re expecting the Tuesday night clash to end differently.

Considering that South Africa needs goals to qualify and Nigeria have to also score in order to preserve their advantage, it’ll be surprising to not see at least three goals at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium.

Where to watch South Africa vs Nigeria Super Falcons live

The game will kick-off at 19:30 SAST and 18:30 WAT on Tuesday night, 9 April 2024.

The South Africa vs Nigeria match will be available on SABC Sport channel for football fans’ viewing pleasure in South Africa. On the other hand, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) YouTube account will broadcast the action for Nigerian fans.

We also advise fans to visit the Banyana Banyana and Super Falcons X accounts for live updates of the match.