BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
Next week’s fixtures of the Women’s World Cup Round of 16 has special flavours that is both historical and political.
The three African teams are tackling the teams from their respective colonial masters.
On Sunday, South Africa will face The Netherlands. The Netherlands, known as Dutch occupied Cape Town and established a colony in South Africa before the British later took over.
Perhaps, Sunday’s match will be a pay-back if South Africa win. On Monday, Nigeria will take on England, part of the United Kingdom that once ruled the African country.
It will be the fourth time both countries women’s teams will clash. They had met at the group stage of the 1995 edition in Kastad, Sweden.
England won the hard fought game, 3-2. But in subsequent two matches in England, Nigeria won both.
First in a July 2002 friendly match, a Patience Avre goal gave Nigeria a 1-0 win in Norwich. When they met again in England at Reading, the Super Falcons had a more comprehensive win, 3-0.
On Tuesday, Morocco, with a French coach, take on France, the European nation that once colonise Morocco. It is their first ever confrontation.