Super Falcons captain Rasheedat Ajibade says the team is fired up and ready to take on South Africa’s Banyana Banyana in what promises to be a fierce WAFCON semifinal clash.

The Nigerian side, nine-time champions of the tournament, have shown both grit and flair in their run so far. Under coach Justine Madugu, they’ve not only netted the most goals in the competition; nine in total, but are also the only team yet to concede.

Though they had a shaky group stage, the Falcons bounced back with a dominant 5-0 win over Zambia’s Copper Queens in the quarter-final, reminding everyone why they’re a powerhouse in African women’s football. Now, the stage is set for another chapter in their rivalry with defending champions South Africa.

Ajibade, speaking ahead of the game, said these are the kind of high-stakes matches the team thrives on. “We live for games like this,” she said. “Reaching the semifinal is proof of the hard work we’ve put in. We aim to get better with every match.” The showdown is scheduled for 5 p.m. Nigerian time at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca.

Barcelona might run into trouble with LaLiga over registering Marcus Rashford ahead of the new season. The club has reportedly reached a deal to bring Manchester United forward on a season-long loan, which includes an option to buy. An official announcement could come as soon as Wednesday.

But according to Sky Sports, the move is facing a major hurdle which is Barcelona’s ongoing financial struggles. Unless the club manages to offload some players through sales or loans, they won’t be able to register Rashford under LaLiga’s strict financial rules. This isn’t the first time Barça has hit a wall. They also missed out on signing Nico Williams from Athletic Bilbao this summer after failing to guarantee his registration.

South Africa’s Banyana Banyana head coach Desiree Ellis has made it clear that her team doesn’t need extra motivation to go all out against Nigeria’s Super Falcons.

The South Africans are chasing back-to-back WAFCON titles after lifting the trophy in Morocco three years ago. The last time they clashed with Nigeria in the finals, South Africa came out on top with a narrow 1-0 win.

Heading into this semifinal, Banyana Banyana edged Senegal on penalties after a tense quarter-final showdown. Despite having just one full training session before facing Nigeria, Ellis remains confident.

She emphasized that her team is locked in and ready, with the technical crew working tirelessly in preparation. “For a semifinal like this, you don’t need to fire anyone up,” Ellis said. “We’re fully focused and prepared for what’s ahead.”