English Women’s Premier League side, Brighton & Hove Albion, have extended a heartfelt good luck message to their newly signed Nigerian goalkeeper, Chiamaka Nnadozie, as she and the Super Falcons prepare for a high-stakes WAFCON semi-final showdown against reigning champions South Africa on Tuesday.
The Nigerian women’s national team, nine-time champions of the continent, are aiming to advance to yet another final in their bid for a record-extending 10th title.
The Super Falcons stormed into the last four with an emphatic 5-0 demolition of Zambia’s Copper Queens in the quarter-finals, maintaining a perfect defensive record in the tournament so far, nine goals scored, none conceded.
Banyana Banyana, on the other hand, were pushed to the limit by Senegal, needing a 4-1 victory on penalties after a goalless draw through 120 minutes.
Nnadozie, a summer signing from French outfit Paris FC, has been instrumental between the sticks, anchoring Nigeria’s resolute backline throughout the competition.
In a post on their official X account, Brighton wrote, “Good luck to @NadozieChiamaka and Nigeria who face #WAFCON semi-final action this evening!”
The semi-final brings back memories of previous intense encounters between the two giants of African women’s football.
In 2016, a stunning free-kick from Desire Oparanozie sealed a narrow 1-0 win for Nigeria over South Africa in the last four in Cameroon.
However, Banyana Banyana famously got the upper hand in the 2012 semi-finals in Equatorial Guinea, beating the Falcons 1-0 before falling in the final.
As both teams prepare for another chapter in their storied rivalry, Nnadozie and the Super Falcons will look to keep their clean sheet record intact and move a step closer to continental glory.
