Former South African Star Claims Banyana Banyana Were Poisoned in Nigeria During WAFCON Qualifier
- Former South African striker Portia Modise has disclosed that nearly the entire Banyana Banyana squad suffered alleged food poisoning in Nigeria
- She alleged that the incident occurred during a crucial Africa Women's Cup of Nations qualifier in the West African nation
- Modise claimed that three players avoided hospitalisation, saying some of the ladies even collapsed on the pitch
A former South African international, Portia Modise, has made a disturbing claim as she alleged a food poisoning incident during a critical WAFCON qualifier in Nigeria.
Modise lamented that the entire Banyana Banyana squad fell ill shortly before the crucial encounter.
The 124-capped legend recounted how only three players were not hospitalised, and that the team played under threats of penalties.
Source: Getty Images
She claimed that with just 10 players available, some collapsed on the pitch, while the Nigerian ladies won the encounter through a controversial offside goal. She said on SuperSport:
"They gave us food poisoning in Nigeria. The whole team was sick. Only three of us were not in the hospital. We thought we were not going to come back.
"They told us, ‘You guys—if you don’t play, you’ll pay’. They didn’t want us to talk about it. We weren’t allowed to say anything.
"People collapsed on the pitch. They couldn’t even make it to the toilet. The goal they scored was offside.
"I always tell people: it’s not that Banyana Banyana didn’t qualify—it’s the situations we faced that didn’t allow us to be weak."
The result stood and Nigeria progressed to the tournament proper, but Moside says such an experience shaped Banyana Banyana’s resilience, Soccernet reports.
As of the time of filing this report, the Nigeria Football Federation has yet to make an official comment over the allegation.
How Nigeria defeated South Africa at WAFCON
Recall that the Super Falcons secured their spot in the 12th Women's Africa Cup of Nations final after a hard-fought 2-1 win over defending champions South Africa in the semi-final.
Captain Rasheedat Ajibade opened the scoring with a composed penalty in the 45th minute inside the Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca, Morocco, on July 22.
South Africa equalised through Linda Motlhalo’s 60th-minute penalty, but Michelle Alozie’s stunning 94th-minute long-range strike clinched Nigeria’s victory.
Source: Getty Images
Ajibade, who was named the man-of-the-match, acknowledged the efforts of the fans who cheered the team to victory throughout the tournament in Morocco.
Nnadozie nominated for Yashine Award
Legit.ng earlier reported that having helped the Super Falcons to the WAFCON title, goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie has been nominated for the Women’s Yachine Trophy at the upcoming 2025 Ballon d'Or ceremony.
Among the awards given out each year at the special event is the Yashin Trophy, the prize awarded to the best goalkeeper in the world. The nominees for the prizes were unveiled on Thursday, August 7, the day the full Ballon d'Or shortlist is also confirmed.
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Source: Legit.ng
