Nigeria in wake-up call after defeat to South Africa in AWCON

 Geoffrey Mwamburi in Cape Coast, Ghana

Holders Nigeria  got a rude shock as they kicked off their title defence on a sluggish note falling 1-0 to South Africa’s Banyana Banyana as the 2018 African Women Cup of Nations finals  entered day three at a half-filled Cape Town Stadium here in Ghana

Substitute Chrestina Kgatlana who came in for Busiswe Innocencia Ndimeni scored the all important goal in the 85 minute after connecting a cross from Janine Van Wyk inside the box.

The Super Falcons had a bright start with Asisat Ashoala coming close but his resultant trigger went wide.

Five minutes later, Banyana Banyana missed a clear chance after Leandra Wiloma Smeda found herself unmarked with only Oluhi Tochukwu to beat in Nigeria’s goal but she fired weakly, failing to trouble the latter.

South Africa continued dominating the game with Bambanani Mbane missing another chance inside the box in the 25 minute after Linda Motlhalo had swung a fine corner but her header missed the target.

After the break, South Africa head coach Desiree Ellis made the first change replacing Busiswe Innocencia Ndimeni with Chrestinah Kgatlana in a bid to strengthen his striking force as Koketso Tlailane replaced Leandra Wiloma Smeda.

“We played against a very tough team. We were less concentrated in the first half but we did it in the second half. It’s my hope we will win all our pool matches to qualify for the semis,”  South Africa coach Desiree Ellis enthused in an interview with Citizen Digital after the match.

His opposite number, Nigerian coach Lennart Dennerby said:  “South Africa is a very good in counter attacks; my players were losing the ball easily and that’s one thing I will work on going to the second game.”

The The Super Falcons will take on Zambia in their second group encounter on Wednesday at the Cape Coast Stadium.