Olympics Qualifier: Desiree Ellis optimistic of eliminating Nigeria in Pretoria

By Saheed Afolabi

Head coach of South Africa women’s national team, Desiree Ellis has expressed high optimism of her side eliminating Nigeria in the second leg of the 2024 Olympics qualifer in Pretoria.

Rasheedat Ajibade 43rd minute goal from the spot gave the Super Falcons a slim advantage over the Bayana Bayana ahead of the second leg in Pretoria.

Brimming with confidence after the game, Ellis admitted the encounter with the Falcons lived up to expectations while laying emphasis on overturning the tie in the second leg at home.

The former South Africa gaffer lamented the missed chances from her side while she commended the team for a decent game.

“Look, we said it was going to be a tight game but we are hopeful of overturning this result in the second leg,” Ellis said at the Postmatch Presser.

“We are still in the game. We created a couple of chances, a penalty decided the match but the game is not over.

“I thought in the second half we raised our game a lot and created good chances and could have equalized. Maybe we could also have gotten a penalty at the end when Jermaine was fouled but I’m very proud of the team and we will take it back to Pretoria.”

The Falcons hold a slim advantage against South Africa going into the second leg slated for Pretoria on Tuesday, April nine.