Banyana Banyana have defeated perennial rivals Nigeria to lift the maiden edition of the 2021 Aisha Buhari Cup.
The South African women’s football team beat Nigeria in their backyard in Lagos 4-2 on Tuesday.
Banyana stunned the Super falcons when they found the net three times without reply in the first half.
The flood gates opened as early as the sixth minute after Nigerian defender Chidi Azolie misjudged a cross from Banyana’s Hilda Magaia and ended up putting the ball in her own goal.
The goal woke the Super Falcons up and they started to press for an equalizer.
However, the South Africans repelled the pressure applied by the Nigerians and mounted attacks of their own.
A Banyana attack saw a Nigerian defender handle the ball in the penalty area.
The resultant penalty in the 19th minute was scored by Banayana Midfielder Linda Motlhalo.
South Africa’s rising star Gabriela Salgado scored the third goal for Banyana a few minutes before half-time.
The Super Falcons came out determined to get back in the game in the second half.
They put up a spirited effort and were rewarded.
Nigeria’s Vivian Ikechukwu scored two goals in the first 10 minutes of the second half to reduce the deficit to 2-3.
Banyana were awarded a second penalty for a foul inside the box. Substitute Mamello Makhabane stepped and scored to make it 4-2 for Banyana.
The South Africans held out till the end to lift the maiden trophy.
