South Africa came out of their shell in the second half to send out a strong signal of intent at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations finals as they beat defending champions Nigeria 2-1 in Rabat on Monday at the start of their Group C campaign.
The match had been billed as a potential dress rehearsal for the final later in the month and South Africa will have received a major morale booster with the victory, courtesy of goals from Jermaine Seoposenwe and Hildah Magaia.
The pair of goals came within two minutes of each other just after the hour mark as Banyana Banyana suddenly burst to life after spending much of the preceding hour on the back foot.
The much-anticipated game, on day three of the tournament in Morocco, was initially a cagey affair with neither side able to create any real chances to score in the first half.
Nigeria’s key striker Asisat Oshola, the four-time African womens’s Footballer of the Year, did have a few half chances but looked to be struggling with injury.
But two minutes after halftime, Oshola was gifted a good opportunity as the Banyana defenders failed to clear a bouncing ball and she struck it firmly on the half volley, but South Africa goalkeeper Andile Dlamini plucked the ball out of the air with a spectacular save.
That might have been the spark to energise the South Africans who put together two sweeping movements not long thereafter to claim their goals and victory.
Noxolo Cesane set up the opener which Seoposenwe did well to tuck away just when it seemed the ball was getting away from her.
Refiloe Jane was the creator of the second goal which Magaia scored with a left-footed finish.
Nigeria surprisingly had nothing in reaction after the two goals and limped their way through the rest of the match, only to sudden grab a consolation in stoppage time and must now regroup for the clash against Botswana in Rabat on Thursday.
Rasheedat Ajibale grabbed the late goal for the nine-time African champions but there was no more time after that for them to look for a second.
This was only the sixth defeat in 56 matches at the Wafcon for Nigeria, who have dominated women’s football on the continent over the decades.
The second Group C match between newcomers Botswana and Burundi will be played later on Monday at the Prince Moulay Stadium in Rabat.