The maiden edition of the Aisha Buhari Tournament came to an end on Tuesday evening with host Nation, Nigeria Super Falcons suffering a 4-2 defeat in the final game.
Randy Waldrum made two changes to his winning team that defeated Mali 2-0. With Regina Otu Ibiang and Uchenna Kanu Grace replacing Ngozi Okobi Ekeoghene and Francisca Ordega respectively in the lineup.
South Africa head coach, Desiree Ellis also effected two changes to her side that demolished Ghana 3-0, with Makhabane Mamello and Holweni Sibulele making way for Makhubele Tiisetso and Melinda Kgadiete in the lineup.
It was the host that posed the first threat from a corner kick by Glory Ogbonna whose effort was headed by the duo of Onome Ebi and Joy Bokiri before Asisat Oshoala’s final header went off target in the third minute.
Two minutes later, it was Banyana turn to pose a threat through Hilda Magaia who sent through a pass in the area from the left and Nigeria’s Michelle Alozie tapped into her own net to hand the visitors the lead.
Not giving the nine-time African Champions the chance to recover from shock, South Africans kept piling pressure on the Nigerian defence which eventually pay off when Kgatlana placed a high ball into the area and hits Onome Ebi’s hand in the box.
Center referee decided on a penalty for Banyana and a yellow for Ebi. Molthalo stepped forward and converted brilliantly from the spot in the 18th minute to double her side’s lead
Desire Oparanozie in the 20th minute thought she had replied one back for Nigeria but the referee spotted an infringement from Asisat Oshoala on her opponent.
Chiamaka Nnadozie made double saves the first from Melinda Kgadiete and the second from the resulting corner kick to keep her side’s hope alive to deny Banyana of a third goal in the 33rd minute.
While the hosts hope for a halftime whistle to restrategized, the rampant COSAFA Women’s Cup champions condemned Nigeria to it’s biggest first half defeat on the continent when Salgado Gabriela tapped in a straying deflected pass across the face of the West Africans’ defence in the 44th minute.
Hoping for a better second half while trusting the homegrown players, Randy Waldrum brought in Vivian Ikechukwu, Monday Gift, Opeyemi Sunday, and Onyebuchi Ihuoma for Uchenna Kanu, Joy Bokiri, Michelle Alozie, and Rita Chikwelu respectively.
Quick to make impact, substitute Monday Gift located another, Vivian Ikechukwu who tapped into an empty net to pull a goal back for Nigeria.
Capitalizing on her youthfulness, Ikechukwu yet again reawakened the hosts’ hope, scoring her second goal of the game in the 53rd minute.
The Super Falcons maintained their high pressing for a possible comeback when Glory Ogbonna tried her luck from outside the box forcing Swart Kaylin to make a save in the 60th minute.
Another penalty awarded as Linda was brought down in the box. Second half substitute, Makhabane Mamello converted from the spot to cushion rSouth Africa’s lead in the 86th minute.
The victory saw Banyana Banyana emerged maiden Aisha Buhari Cup champions with six points from two games and avenged their 2018 TotalEnergies Africa Women’s Cup of Nations final defeat to Nigeria in Ghana and finally recorded their biggest ever win over the nine-time African winners.
MOLATsportgist 