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Mission X: Banyana Banyana Will Fall, Super Falcons Assures Nigerians
Nigeria’s Mission X juggernaut rumbles inexorably to the finish line, as the Super Falcons say they are determined to abort the title-retaining dreams of Cup holders South Africa when both sides clash in the second semi final of the 13th Women AFCON finals in Casablanca on Tuesday.
In the competition’s 27-year history, the Super Falcons have never failed to make the semi finals, and boastful Zambia turned out to be too weak to shred that record when both teams met in the quarter finals on Friday, an encounter from which the Super Falcons ran out 5-0 winners.
South Africa’s Banyana Banyana have been traditionally a miserable opposition to the Nigerian girls for decades. It took the girls from the Rainbow Nation 17 years, after a first meeting in March 1995, to secure a win over the Falcons – a 1-0 win in a Women AFCON match in Equatorial Guinea 13 years ago. Before then, they serially suffered, their take-homes including 7-1 and 5-0 drubbings.
The Banyana netted another Women AFCON win in Ghana in 2018 (group stage), but suffered heartbreak in a penalty shootout in the final that earned Nigeria a 9th continental title. Three years ago, the Banyana again had the upper hand in a group stage match (2-1) and went on to win their first African title after beating host nation Morocco (penalty shootout winners over Nigeria in the semi finals) in the final.
Debate has been fierce over the past few weeks as to which team is the best in Africa, between the Falcons and the Banyana, and that question should be properly attended to at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium on Tuesday evening.
In 10 previous Women AFCON clashes between both nations, Nigeria have been triumphant six times, with South Africa winning on three occasions. The only one that ended in a draw (2018 Women AFCON Final) was eventually won by Nigeria following a penalty shootout.
In total, both teams have clashed 25 times, since the first meeting on 4th March 1997 – a 1995 FIFA Women’s World qualifying match that the Falcons won 4-1. In the return leg in South Africa two weeks later, the Banyana were pumped 7-1. The Super Falcons have won 15 times, with six games ending in draws and the Banyana winning four times.
South Africa’s biggest win over Nigeria remains a 4-2 spanking they handed to an understrength Nigeria in the Aisha Buhari Invitational Tournament in Lagos in September 2021. Most recently, the Falcons rode over the Banyana to qualify for their first appearance at the Women Olympic Football Tournament in 16 years.
Two years ago, both the Falcons and the Banyana reached the Round of 16 at the FIFA Women’s World Cup finals in Down Under. However, the Falcons were the ones that wowed the universal audience with their guts, grit and flair, in defeating co-hosts Australia right at Brisbane’s Lang Park and leaving the tournament unbeaten in regulation time.
Here in Morocco, Nigeria forward Chinwendu Ihezuo is firmly in the race for the top scorer’s award, as she is presently on three goals, one behind Morocco captain Ghizlane Chebbak and Senegalese forward Nguenar Ndiaye.
No doubt, the indices and elements are there for an explosive Women AFCON semi final clash in Casablanca on Tuesday evening.
FALCONS, BANYANA IN HISTORY
4 Mar 1995: Nigeria 4 South Africa 1 (WCq)
19 Mar 1995: South Africa 1 Nigeria 7 (WCq)
25 Nov 2000: South Africa 0 Nigeria 2 (WAfcon)
18 Dec 2002: Nigeria 5 South Africa 0 (WAfcon)
30 Mar 2003: South Africa 0 Nigeria 3 (Friendly)
11 Oct 2003: Nigeria 1 South Africa 0 (AfGames)
12 Mar 2004: South Africa 2 Nigeria 2 (Oq)
28 Mar 2004: Nigeria 1 South Africa 0 (Oq)
9 July 2007: South Africa 2 Nigeria 2 (AfGames)
18 July 2007: South Africa 0 Nigeria 4 (AfGames)
28 July 2008: Nigeria 5 South Africa 0 (Oq)
12 Aug 2008: South Africa 0 Nigeria 1 (Oq)
22 Nov 2008: South Africa 0 Nigeria 1 (WAfcon)
4 Nov 2010: South Africa I Nigeria 2 (WAfcon)
3 June 2012: South Africa 1 Nigeria 1 (Friendly)
23 June 2012: Nigeria 0 South Africa 0 (Friendly)
7 Nov 2012: South Africa 1 Nigeria 0 (WAfcon)
22 Oct 2014: South Africa 1 Nigeria 2 (WAfcon)
29 Nov 2016: Nigeria 1 South Africa 0 (WAfcon)
18 Nov 2018: South Africa 1 Nigeria 0 (WAfcon)
1 Dec 2018: Nigeria 0 South Africa 0 (WAfcon) – Nigeria triumphed 4-3 penalties
21 Sept 2021: Nigeria 2 South Africa 4 (Aisha Buhari Cup)
4 July 2022: South Africa 2 Nigeria 1 (WAfcon)
5 April 2024: Nigeria 1 South Africa 0 (Oq)
9 April 2024: South Africa 0 Nigeria 0 (Oq)
News
Roy Keane Blasts ‘Frightened’ Manchester United After West Ham Draw
Manchester United thought they had the job wrapped up at Old Trafford… until they didn’t.
Diogo Dalot’s tidy finish just before the hour mark looked like the moment that would push the Red Devils to a much-needed victory. But in classic 2025 Manchester United fashion, control slipped, intensity dipped, and West Ham pounced.
And of course—when things go wrong—Roy Keane is never far from the verbal action.
“They Weren’t Nasty Enough!” – Keane Fires Shots
After the 1-1 draw, Keane wasted zero time calling out what he sees as the real issue at United: timidity.
According to him, United “took their foot off the gas” right after scoring. Against a team in the bottom three, he expected more authority, more aggression, and definitely more hunger.
Instead, what he saw was a team “almost frightened” of finishing the job.
He slammed the players for hiding when pressure kicked in, criticized their lack of killer instinct, and even called out the relaxed body language during substitutions.
In typical Keane fashion, the message was simple:
United should never be this soft.
Amorim Also Frustrated: “The Game Was Ours To Win”
Manager Ruben Amorim didn’t sugarcoat anything either.
While he didn’t go full-Keane, he admitted:
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United lost control after scoring
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They failed to win second balls
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They should have killed the match earlier
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The inconsistency is becoming a real problem
For a team chasing European places, three draws in five games simply isn’t good enough.
West Ham Deserved Their Point
To be fair, West Ham didn’t just sit back and wait. They fought, pressed, countered, and eventually got their reward when Soungoutou Magassa slotted home the 83rd-minute equaliser.
United had late chances, but the story of their season resurfaced again:
moments created, moments wasted.
Where Do United Go From Here?
Sitting eighth on the table, United’s inconsistency continues to be their biggest opponent. Keane believes the team lacks bite. Amorim believes the team lacks control.
Fans believe the team lacks… well, everything except drama.
What’s clear is this: until United find their identity and intensity, nights like this will keep happening.
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Local News
Beckham Joins Bellingham & Trent to Unveil Retro Gunmetal Adidas Predator Mania
Beckham Links Up With The New Generation
Adidas just pulled off the ultimate fusion of eras — pairing Real Madrid legend David Beckham with modern-day stars Jude Bellingham and Trent Alexander-Arnold to unveil the new throwback Predator Mania Gunmetal.
The visual alone is powerful:
Beckham, the man who helped define the Predator legacy, standing alongside the players shaping a new generation at the Santiago Bernabéu.
It’s nostalgia meeting modern football culture in the cleanest way possible.
How Beckham & Zidane Made The Predator A Cultural Icon
In the 2000s, football boots had personalities — and none louder than the Predator.
Thanks to players like:
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David Beckham
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Zinedine Zidane
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Steven Gerrard
…the Predator brand became more than footwear — it became a symbol of confidence, control, and creativity.
Beckham’s signature whip-your-free-kick technique and the unforgettable fold-over tongue made Predator Mania one of the most legendary boots ever created.
And now in 2025, it’s back — reborn with purpose.
A Historic Gunmetal Colourway Returns
The 2025 Predator Mania comes in a stunning Gunmetal grey, blending early-2000s nostalgia with fresh modern flair.
Adidas describes it as:
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“Metallic, polished and aggressive”
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Featuring crisp white Three Stripes
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And the iconic red fold-over tongue — embroidered and unapologetically bold
Beckham famously wore this colourway during his early Real Madrid days.
It quickly became a cult favourite, often called “one of the most photogenic boots of its era.”
Now it’s back — and it looks better than ever.
Engineered For Today’s Game
While the look is faithful, adidas didn’t simply remake the past — they improved it.
The 2025 Predator Mania is crafted in the historic Scheinfeld factory in Germany, the birthplace of many legendary Predator lines.
Key enhancements include:
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Upgraded comfort
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Subtle structural refinement
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Increased responsiveness
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Modern fit for today’s style of play
In short:
Old-school swagger meets high-performance engineering.
Back On The Bernabéu Grass
The revival feels even more fitting because two current Real Madrid stars — Bellingham and Alexander-Arnold — will bring the Gunmetal Mania back to the Santiago Bernabéu pitch.
From Beckham’s free-kick artistry to Bellingham’s midfield dominance and Trent’s laser passing…
the Predator legacy remains in elite company.
Adidas couldn’t have scripted a better generational handover.
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