South Africa Coach Desire Ellis confident ahead of crucial clash with Nigeria’s Super Falcons

The coach of the South African Female Football Team, Banyana Banyana, Desire Ellis has expressed her confidence ahead of the crucial encounter against Nigeria’s Super Falcons in the Olympic qualifiers.

The stage is set for a high-stakes battle between the two African football powerhouses, with Nigeria securing a hard-fought victory over the Lionesses of Cameroon in Abuja.

For Coach Ellis, the upcoming clash against Nigeria presents a key opportunity for Banyana Banyana to assert their dominance on the field and secure a favorable outcome in Abuja.

“The first leg will be key. Getting a positive result in the first leg will take a lot of pressure off us because the travelling is long and there’s little time to prepare for the second leg,” Ellis emphasized, highlighting the significance of securing a good result away from home.

Preparations for the encounter are already underway, with Ellis revealing plans to travel early to Nigeria to acclimatize and fine-tune her team’s strategy. She also called on supporters to rally behind Banyana Banyana, emphasizing the impact of home support on the team’s performance.

Despite facing challenges such as the absence of first-choice goalkeeper Andile Dlamini due to medical reasons, Ellis remains undaunted, expressing confidence in her squad’s depth and ability to rise to the occasion.

“It doesn’t affect us much. We have a group of players to step in if somebody steps out. It gives an opportunity for someone else to raise their hand,” Ellis affirmed, highlighting the resilience and adaptability of her team.

The first leg of the crucial Olympic qualifier will take place at the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja on Friday, April 5, with the return fixture scheduled at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria on Tuesday, April 9.

The victors of the tie will secure a coveted spot at the Paris 2024 Olympics, adding further stakes to an already highly anticipated showdown.