The Super Falcons have another opportunity to keep their 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup hopes alive when they face familiar rivals, South Africa’s Banyana Banyana in a crucial play-off in Casablanca, today.
 
The encounter comes after Nigeria’s quarter-final elimination by Cameroon at the ongoing Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, with both teams now fighting for passage to the Inter-Confederation Playoff Tournament, which is the remaining route to the 2027 World Cup in Brazil.
 
The match will be held at the Moulay Rachid Stadium, with kick-off scheduled for 9.00 p.m.
 
The fixture rekindles a rivalry that has produced some of the most memorable encounters in African women’s football. Nigeria edged South Africa 2-1 in their last meeting at the 2025 WAFCON semifinal, with Michelle Alozie scoring a spectacular added-time winner in Casablanca.
 
South Africa, however, have enjoyed success against the Super Falcons at the continental championship, defeating Nigeria in the 2012, 2018 and 2022 editions.
 
Despite those results, Nigeria still hold the clear historical advantage, with 17 victories against Banyana Banyana in their previous competitive meetings, compared with only four South African wins.
 
The two sides have also met in high-stakes Olympic qualifying encounters. In April 2024, the Super Falcons secured qualification for the Paris Olympics after a 1-0 aggregate victory over South Africa, with Rasheedat Ajibade scoring the decisive goal from the penalty spot in Abuja before the return leg ended goalless.
 
Ajibade will once again captain Nigeria, while South Africa will look to the pace and attacking threat of Thembi Kgatlana as both sides battle for another route to the global stage.
 
The Super Falcons will also need to improve their finishing after creating several chances but failing to score against Cameroon in Sunday’s quarterfinal.
 
Coach Justin Madugu is expected to make attacking adjustments as Nigeria seek to take advantage of their second opportunity to qualify for Brazil 2027.
 
The long history between the two nations adds further weight to today’s contest.
 
Nigeria dominated many of their early meetings, including a 7-1 victory in South Africa during the 1995 World Cup qualifiers and a 5-0 WAFCON win in 2002.
 
The Super Falcons also defeated Banyana Banyana 1-0 in the semifinal clash at Nimbe, Cameroon, under Coach Florence Omagbemi en route to the 2016 final, which Nigeria also won 1-0 against the Indomitable Lionesses.

South Africa’s most recent major victory over the Falcons came in the 2022 WAFCON, when Banyana won 2-1.
 
Nigeria responded three years later, defeating South Africa 2-1 in the 2025 WAFCON semifinal.