The Olympic qualifier match between the Nigeria senior national women’s soccer team, the Super Falcons, and their South African counterparts, Banyana Banyana, scheduled to take place in Abuja on Friday afternoon, has been postponed to Sunday March 28.
This is due to a stomach bug that swept through the South African camp, which laid 12 players low, including the two goalkeepers.
Speaking from Abuja, Nigeria, chairperson of the Women’s Committee Ria Ledwaba said: ”We are very disappointed with the turn of events. We came here prepared to take the Super Falcons head on in this crucial match, but unfortunately our girls got sick. Our medical team is attending to the players concerned, and we would like to assure everybody that we are doing everything possible to get our players back on their feet.
”The doctor has taken three players to hospital to run tests and to ensure a more accurate diagnosis of the problem. We hope that come Sunday our girls will be feeling well enough to play. If not, the match commissioner in consultation with Fifa will make the decision on the match.”
After taking the three girls to the hospital, the Banyana Banyana team doctor, Dimakatso Ramagole, said that it was confirmed that they were suffering from acute food poisoning.
”We took some tests and we will get the results on Monday. We are going to keep a close watch on the players throughout the night and in the next few days. The hospital has also given us additional medication, which should help our girls greatly. I am confident that they will be up and about in the next few days,” concluded the doctor.
”We will keep the public informed as we go along. We would like to thank everybody that has been assisting us in making sure that our girls are comfortable, especially the South African high commissioner who has given us Lunga Bhengu to make sure that we are well looked after and assist us in taking the three players to the hospital,” said Ledwaba. — Sapa