Super Falcons captain Rasheedat Ajibade has admitted that the team faced moments of nervousness and confusion during their hard-fought 2–1 semi-final win over South Africa at the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
Speaking at the post-match press conference after earning her third Player of the Match award in the tournament Ajibade opened up about the emotional pressure the team felt, especially after South Africa equalized in the second half.
“Honestly, we were nervous. When it got to 1–1, there was a bit of confusion,” she said.
“We had to regroup quickly and remind ourselves that fear could tear us apart and give the advantage to the opponent.”
Ajibade, who gave Nigeria the lead with a composed penalty kick, highlighted the importance of staying mentally strong and united under pressure.
“We held it together and kept lifting each other. That determination kept us going until the final whistle.”
Looking back at the match, she admitted that the team wasted several scoring chances, particularly before halftime.
“We created a lot but couldn’t finish. Still, what matters most is the result.”
Ajibade also expressed her sympathy following the injury of South African forward Gabriela Salgado.
“It really broke my heart. No athlete ever wants to see that happen to themselves or anyone else. We’ll definitely reach out and hope she recovers fully and comes back stronger.”
With the victory, Nigeria books a place in its tenth WAFCON final, aiming to extend its perfect record in tournament deciders.
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