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Ellis upbeat about Banyana’s chances on Tuesday

todayApril 8, 2024 66 1

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Desiree Ellis, coach of South Africa during the 2024 Olympics Qualifiers match between Nigeria and South Africa at the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abuja on the 05 April 2024 ©Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix

Banyana Banyana will have to pull out all stops tomorrow night when they take on long time rivals Nigeria in the second leg of their 2024 Olympic Qualifier at Loftus Versveld in Pretoria.

The South African women’s national team was beaten 1-0 in the first leg in Abuja, Nigeria, last Friday thanks to Rasheedat Ajibade’s penalty after Banyana veteran Noko Matlou committed a foul inside the box.

Desiree Ellis’ charges will be desperate to overturn the deficit having missed out on the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. The Super Falcons will not make it easy as they last qualified for the games in 2008.

Ellis wasn’t too pleased with her side’s performance in Nigeria last week.

“I thought in the  first half we didn’t play, we were too far apart and kept playing the long ball and they read that very well. We weren’t on the ball long enough, we couldn’t put our foot on the ball.”

Desiree Ellis, coach of South Africa during the 2024 Olympics Qualifiers match between Nigeria and South Africa at the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abuja on the 05 April 2024 ©Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix

Despite the result, the former Banyana skipper is optimistic that they can turn things around in South Africa’s capital.

“As we say, it’s half-time and we look forward to taking the game to Pretoria. We just have to make sure that we’re the first team to score but we also need to make sure we don’t concede.”

Ellis also highlighted the importance of her team qualifying for the Olympics.

“Going to the Olympics is huge, you don’t need any motivation to lift yourself up or to change your mentality, it’s now up to us to take the game to them.”

Refiloe Jane of South Africa challenged by Abiodun Deborah Ajibola of Nigeria during the 2024 Olympics Qualifiers match between Nigeria and South Africa at the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abuja on the 05 April 2024 ©Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix

Tuesday’s second leg will kick off at 19:00.

Written by: Ntsako Mukhari

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