Former South Africa women’s national team captain, Simphiwe Dludlu, has expressed skepticism over the Super Falcons’ chances of clinching a record-extending 10th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title, citing their recent performances.
Dludlu, who captained Banyana Banyana between 2009 and 2010, shared her thoughts during an interview on Lagos Talks FM, noting that the gap between Nigeria and other African teams has significantly narrowed.
“I look at them, and I believe the rest of Africa has caught up,” Dludlu said. “There was a time when Nigeria was the only team exporting top talent to Europe and beyond, giving them a massive advantage. But now, that dynamic is changing.”
She argued that while Nigeria still possesses talent, other nations have grown stronger, creating a more level playing field.
“The Nigerian team doesn’t seem to be under constant pressure from other teams. In 2018, South Africa beat them in the group stage, yet they still won the final. But in 2022, they didn’t even make the podium,” she pointed out.
Dludlu also questioned the team’s consistency and leadership. “There hasn’t been a lot of clarity in that Nigerian side. Champions must keep raising the bar, but Nigeria isn’t doing that right now. Instead, they’re giving other teams belief that they can be beaten. Even Botswana nearly held them to a draw.”
Highlighting emerging threats, she added: “If you don’t score goals in this tournament, you’re in trouble. Morocco and Zambia are showing real intent. Their attacks are lethal players like Ghizlane Chebbak, Barbra Banda, and Racheal Kundananji are currently leading the scoring charts.”
With strong contenders emerging and Nigeria’s dominance under question, Dludlu believes the race for the 2024 WAFCON crown is wide open.
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