MOLATsportgist

It’s a clash of the big guns when South Africa face Ghana in the match day three of the ongoing Aisha Buhari Invitational Friendly.

However it was the Banyana Banyana who outclassed the Black Queens in a dominant display at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena.

South Africa looked more threatened on the attack, forcing the opponent’s defense to do more work than usual. Coleman Ellen cleared the ball from the goal line to prevent South Africa from going ahead in the seventh minute.

Thembi Kgatlana had a one-on-one chance against the Ghanaian goalkeeper, Fafali Dumehasi, who managed to parried the ball but unable to clear her territory as she hit the crossbar for Hildah Magaia to head the rebound into the back of the net.

The Queens kept pushing in search of the equalizer but an effort by Grace Asantewaa in the 35th minute went wide.

Despite trailing, the Queens looked very confident on the ball and very composed in getting their passes right but lacked in finishing their chances.

Thembi Kgatlana who have been terrorizing the Queens’ defense with her pace, raced through the box and dribbled past Coleman Ellen and Fafali Dumehasi before slotting the ball into an empty net to double the Banyana Banyana’s lead in the 53rd minute.

The former African Footballer of the Year, showed class throughout the game.

Holweni Sibulele sealed victory for the Banyana Banyana with an 84th minute powerful header from Rafiloe Jane’s corner kick.

The Black Queens will next face Cameroon on Monday, September 20, in the second game of the tournament.

A day after, South Africa will battle the host, Super Falcons of Nigeria.

Super Falcons striker, Desire Oparanozie has expressed her readiness to sacrifice flesh, blood and sweat on the pitch of play while playing her fatherland.

The 27-year-old forward, sustained head cut after a terrible head collision at the end of the first half in Nigeria’s 2-0 win over Mali on Monday during the opening game of the Aisha Buhari Cup at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan.

The Nigerian international took to her Instagram handle to express her total commitment while thanking the medical team for a job well done.

“Fighting through in my youth, for fatherland, sweat, and blood. Appreciation to the medical team for being on deck hands on. #HeadCollision”, she wrote.

It’s battle of lionesses as Atlas Lionesses of Morocco beat the Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon 1-0, on match day two of the Aisha Buhari Cup at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan, on Thursday.

A game full of outstanding tactical skills by the Moroccans was matched with the Cameroonians physicality and experience.

Despite having most of the chances in the first half, Cameroon were unable to convert. Hence, a stalemate draw heading into the half time.

Facing a four-time AWCON runners-up, with FIFA World Cup and Olympics experience, the Moroccan girls were full of determination as they went tackle-for-tackle throughout the second half.

The hero for Morocco was the goalkeeper Errmichi Khadija who made several saves to deny the Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon, before the great turnaround.

It was the North Africa that triumph through Fatima Tagnaout whose lone strike in the 78th minute, was enough to give her side the win against the sub-Saharan teams.

Post Match Reactions:

Cameroon Captain, Aboudi Onguene said “Congratulations to Morocco on the win, we couldn’t take our chances and they score with their best chance. That’s how football can be. We just had a new coach and we are trying to improve the team and prepare better for the AWCON qualifiers coming up in October. This invitational matches is the best avenue to do that.”

Morocco Coach on fielding more home-based players and the plan ahead: “We are not ready yet, we are still work in progress. We are building mostly with the girls at home, they will be joined by some foreign based players too. We’ve work very hard to come this far and you can see we have project we are working on to improve.”

Since its inception in 2019, a number of big Nigerian Women Football clubs have participated and this year’s promised to be big and better, with clubs from neighbouring countries also participating.

In 2019, Edo Queens emerge winners after defeating Nasarawa Amazons in the final.

In 2020, Nasarawa Amazons became runners-up for the second time after losing to Bayelsa Queens by a lone goal.

Here are five Reasons why we should all look forward to the biggest women’s football Pre-season Championship in Africa.

• Something Different.

There has never been a Pre-season like this before, where teams from outside of Nigeria will be represented.

This would be an opportunity for teams to taste a different kind of football and opportunity away from norms. The atmosphere is expected to be something new.

• Rivalries.

One of Flying Officers Cup biggest selling points would be the passionate rivalries many teams in the tournament have with their opponents.

So many rivalries will be rekindled, from the home derbies to the continental ones.

Top teams like Rivers Angels, Bayelsa Queens, Nasarawa Amazons and FC Robo Queens may most likely meet up in the competition.

• The Return Of Fans.

A handful of supporters will be allowed to come support their clubs. Recently, the COVID-19 pandemic struck the world, which made most matches played behind closed doors. With fans coming in and taking necessary precautions, it promises to be an electrifying environment at the Area 10 Sports Complex, Abuja.

• Entertaining Goals.

Look forward to strikes such as the sumptuous free-kick scored last year by Royal Queens midfielder Chioma Olise against Edo Queens or the stunner from about 30 yards scored by Naija Ratels midfielder Blessing Emmanuel to give her side the equalizer against Nasarawa Amazons in the Semi-final. We are expected to see even better goals this time around.

• The Upset Of The Underdogs.

If the 2020 edition of the Flying Officers Cup taught us anything, it was that nothing is ever certain in Football. Naija Ratels an underdog, went on to reach the Semi-final of the Flying Officers Cup, losing via penalties to Edo Queens and Nasarawa Amazons respectively in the third-place and semi’s matches.

We might be seeing more surprises this year with teams from the NWFL Nationwide, Championship and Premiership all participating.

So many anticipated the start of the inaugural Aisha Buhari Cup, not just to see the teams go head-to-head but also to see what the organizers will pull off in terms of arrangement, publicly and security.

Just like the US Summer Series, the ABC commands great expectations from its fans.

The six-nation invitational friendlies opened with the Hosts taking on the female Eagles of Mali at the presence of the FIFA and CAF Presidents.

The game was aired by the official media partner NTA through DStv. It was also streamed live on Instagram and Facebook for people across the world to access. Also available on a site owners by the country’s football federation NFF.tv.

Entry was made free – with COVID-19 protocols strictly adhere by – to get people in the area to support women’s football development and give hope to the girl-child, as the organizers aim is to encourage a girl-child empowerment through football.

Nonetheless, security was too notched as everything went smoothly.

Fans across the globe have now took to their social media platforms to commend the organizers for a job well done. Top of the list is a women’s football advocate and a top journalist in Ghana, Ewuarama Kakraba-Ampeh.

It was the first game of the much anticipated Aisha Buhari Invitational Friendly Matches, fondly called the Aisha Buhari Cup.

The Six-Nation invitational matches flagged off at the remodelled Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan. The event which is in honor of the name and office of Nigeria’s First Lady.

The host nation started with a lineup of ten foreign based players and just one home based player.

Despite having the better side, it was Mali that posed threats through Aissata Traore, but the defensive duo of an experienced Onome Ebi and one of NWFL best Akudo held their ground.

Frustrated by their winless three-match campaign at the US Summer Series in June, the Super Falcons were under pressure to make statement at the presence of the FIFA President and CAF President.

The first half ended with a terrible head collision through a corner kick that saw Desire Oparanozie’s head bleeding.

With Oparanozie injured and Alozie carded, Coach Randy Waldrum made four changes at the start of the second half with Oparanozie, Okobi, Bokiri and Alozie making way for Ikidi, Otu, Kanu and Okorokwo.

Mali goalkeeper, Fatoumata Karenta started the second half on a great momentum, saving from Oshoala’s threat and some minutes later saved from Uchenna Kanu.

Coming on for Francisca Ordega in the 77th minute FC Robo forward, Monday Gift handed the host a shock lead through a powerful header from Asisat Oshoala’s assist in the 82nd minute.

One minute into added time, the duo combined again to seal the win as Oshoala’s back header fell in the direction of Monday, who lobbed the ball over Karenta.

The African champions have now extended their head-to-head superiority over the Female Eagles to a sixth consecutive triumph since 2015.

The Falcons will be back in action on Tuesday, September 21, when they take on Desiree Ellis’ South Africa at the same venue.

Two days earlier, Mali will also look to avenge their 2021 doubleheader friendly defeats to 2022 TotalEnergies Africa Women’s Cup of Nations hosts, Morocco.

The much anticipated Aisha Buhari Cup kicked off at the remodelled Mobolaji Johnson Stadium Onikan Lagos State on Wednesday evening.

Football royalties led by the world football governing body, FIFA President – Gianni Infantino, CAF President – Patrice Motsepe, NFF President and FIFA Council Member – Amaju Pinnick and the Nigeria Minister for Youths and Sports – Sunday Dare, were in attendance for the inaugural edition of the Aisha Buhari Cup.

Also honouring the glamorous event were political dignitaries – the executive governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Minister for women affairs, Pauline Tallen.

The event started with a colourful opening ceremony saw African arts performed by two dancing troops which entertained the spectators before the kickoff.

The world football governing body, FIFA has redesignated the much anticipated Six-Nation Invitational Tournament in honor of the office of the First Lady of Nigeria, as friendly matches.

According to reports, this development was due to FIFA rule which allows only two matches to be played by any national team during international break and the dates scheduled for the showpiece fall on 2021 FIFA Women’s Window Type 1.

Also, the organizers will not be allowed to present trophies to the winners in any category during the friendly matches.

This has caused the organizers to readjust the match fixtures with the first match now billed for Wednesday, September 15, 2021 contrary to the initial planned date September 13.