Banyana Banyana hold Falcons 0-0

Nigeria started brightly with Esther Sunday causing problems for the Banyana defence with her pace and penetration on the left. The former junior international however suffered a rush of blood to the head in the 4th minute when she opted to shoot rather than square for the unmarked Desire Oparanozie after out smarting Lebogang Mabatle. […]

Nigeria started brightly with Esther Sunday causing problems for the Banyana defence with her pace and penetration on the left.

The former junior international however suffered a rush of blood to the head in the 4th minute when she opted to shoot rather than square for the unmarked Desire Oparanozie after out smarting Lebogang Mabatle.

Banyana responded soon after through captain, Amanda Lamini whose ambitious shot from the edge of the Nigeria penalty area was blocked by the Nigerian defence.

The next Banyana attack ended with a Nigerian casualty as Precious Dede picked up a nasty injury following a full-blooded clash with Andisiwe Mgcoyi.

The damage proved to extensive as Dede made way for the unheralded Tochukwu Oluehi.

Nigeria never seemed to recover from Dede’s injury in the first period as they found clear cut opportunities pretty difficult to come by.

Ameze Aighewi’s tame effort in the 35th minute and Ngozi Ebere’s speculative effort which grazed the cross bar four minutes later represented the African champions’ best efforts in the first stanza.

It wasn’t all Nigeria though as Banyana also came close, without any success, in the 20th and 26th minutes through Portia Modise.

Nigeria looked to improve after the break and coach Samson Unuanel introduced powerful forward, Ebere Orji for the tiring Aighewi.

The attacker’s impact was immediately felt as she whipped in a precise free kick which was just about missed by the arriving Nigerian strikers.

Gloria ‘Eche’ Iroka had come close moments earlier with a powerful strike that rattled the side netting.

Banyana continued to soak up the pressure and attempt to find some joy with lightening fast breaks with the veteran, Modise at the tip of the spear.

Nigeria failed to profit from the half chances they created as the Banyana claimed a heroic draw against storied opposition.

Banyana’s team manager, Lydia ‘Skills’ Manyepao was full of praise for the ladies from Madiba’s country for their ‘display of courage and passion’.

“It was a good performance. The girls displayed courage and passion against opponents as credible as Nigeria.

“We also want to thank our sponsors and SAFA for giving us this opportunity to play tune up games ahead of the olympics. Our recent matches against Zambia and Tanzania will put us in a good position to do Africa proud in London,” she told SuperSport.com after the game.