'African giants playing against each other' - Banyana Banyana star Salgado ahead of massive game v Nigeria
Published: April 05, 2024Banyana Banyana forward Gabriela Salgado has labeled Friday evening's showdown between Nigeria and South Africa at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium a 'massive game'.
The Super Falcons dominated women's football on the African continent for a very long time but Banyana Banyana have made big strides both internationally and on the continent in recent years.
Banyana Banyana are the reigning African champions, winning the 2022 tournament in Morocco after finishing as runners-up on five previous occasions and attended back-to-back Olympic games in 2012 and 2016 while qualifying for the Fifa Women's World Cup in 2019 and 2023.
According to the Fifa rankings released last month, the Super Falcons are still the number one ranked African nation followed by their opponents this evening, South Africa.
Salgado reckons that there is very little separating the two countries based on performance.
"It's massive. We all know how important this game is, both teams want to qualify for the Olympics. As you mentioned we missed out on the one before, so it's a massive game - African giants playing against each other," Salgado told SABC News.
"As we are African champs we need to go out there and show the country and everyone else that we deserve to qualify for the Olympics as we are African champions."
Salgado said Banyana Banyana will rely on the experience gained by winning the inaugural Aisha Buhari Cup held in Nigeria three years ago.
And she has insisted that Banyana Banyana have the mental toughness to handle any challenge they are confronted with including the weather
"I think it comes down to mind of a matter. We need to put those things aside, we all played in the heat before, we've played in the Aisha Buhari Cup.
"The weather was the same and we won that Cup so it just comes down to how badly we want it and I think this team is mentally prepared so there's nothing that can stop us."
Ifeanyi Emmanuel
Photo Credit: safa.net
Copyright ANS
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from allnigeriasoccer.com
- U17 AFCON qualifier Nigeria 1 Niger 0: Rapha Adams header secures three points for Golden Eaglets
- Isaac Success: 2013 U17 AFCON top scorer suffers injury in Italy ahead of Finidi's squad announcement
- After the return to action of Onuachu and Osayi-Samuel, Finidi has another fitness boost pre-Bafana Bafana
- Bayo Fapetu: Derby County in contract talks with midfielder who was on the books of Arsenal for ten years
- Photo: Eberechi Eze takes son of ex-Super Eagles star Victor Moses under his wing at Crystal Palace
- Osimhen's replacement: Napoli contact Man Utd over signing one-cap England international
- Official: Millwall release three Nigerian players ahead of next season
- Rangers boss provides fitness update on Super Eagles CB ahead of Scottish FA Cup final v Celtic
- Ex-Celtic midfielder tears into Dessers after close-range miss in Rangers' six-goal thriller v Hearts
- Birmingham City exercise option to extend contract of son of former Super Eagles midfielder
- Football Betting
- African Players
- Australia/ Asia
- Belgian Championship
- Bundesliga
- Danish Football
- English Premier League
- Nigeria National Teams
- Nigeria Premier League
- Norwegian Football
- Polish Football
- Russian Championship
- Serie A
- Spanish Liga
- Swedish Championship
- Transfer
- Turkish Championship
- Ukrainian Football
- Uncategorized
- Women's Football