Nigeria will have to fight hard to continue their reign as defending champions and nine-time winners of the Women's Cup of Nations. The Super Falcons came up against a stronger team in their opening match on Monday 4 July: South Africa's Banyana Banyana. In the other match of group C, Refilwe Tholakele led Botswana to victory against Burundi (4-2).
Botswana and Burundi put on a good show for football fans in their first ever AFCON finals. The two first-timers scored a total of six goals, four for Botswana and two for Burundi. The Zebras were very playful and were led by their 26-year-old striker Refilwe Tholakele who scored twice in the second half (55' and 60'). Botswana had already found the breakthrough in the first half through Keitumetse Dithebe (43'), before Lesego Radiankayo doubled the score at the beginning of the second half. The Burundian side did not have enough to make the Zebras doubt their chances, as Sandrine Niyonkuru scored twice.
𝐀 𝐒𝐄𝐍𝐒𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐊𝐄! 💥#TeamBotswana’s Refilwe Tholakele wins our Goal Of The Day! ⚽️#TotalEnergiesWAFCON2022 | #EmpoweringOurGame | @1xBet_Eng pic.twitter.com/ZMhky31gGM
— #TotalEnergiesWAFCON2022 (@CAFwomen) July 4, 2022
With this victory, Botswana leads Pool C ahead of the scarecrows South Africa and Nigeria.
📹 𝐇𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐋𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒: 🇧🇮 2-4 🇧🇼 #TeamBotswana clinch the win after a 6-goal-thriller vs. #TeamBurundi!#TotalEnergiesWAFCON2022 | #EmpoweringOurGame | @Football2Gether pic.twitter.com/dwQpGnQGsO
— #TotalEnergiesWAFCON2022 (@CAFwomen) July 4, 2022
South Africa get revenge against Nigeria
Earlier in the day, defending champions Nigeria's Super Falcons got off to a poor start in their WAFCON. They were beaten 2-1 by South Africa in their Group C opener. The fight to retain their title looks set to be a tough one.
Nigeria, who beat Bayana Bayana in the final of the last Africa Cup of Nations for Women, were expected to be the favourites for their reunion with South Africa in the first match of group C. But at the final whistle, it was the South Africans who took the three points ahead of the Super Falcons. The South Africans won in the second half thanks to goals from Jermaine Seoposenwe (61') and Hildah Magaia (63'). Ajibade's goal in injury time (90+2) did not change the outcome of the match. Nigeria, on the other hand, will have to bounce back in their second match.
