Amanda Dlamini predicts tough battle for Banyana Banyana against Nigeria in Pretoria

By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde

Former South Africa captain, Amanda Dlamini feels Banyana Banyana will have a huge task to upturn the 1-0 deficit against Nigeria in the return leg of the Paris 2024 Olympics Qualifiers on Tuesday.

Rasheedat Ajibade scored the winner during the 1- 0 defeat to the Super Falcons last Friday, played at Moshood Abiola Stadium.

Dlamini believes that the African champions will face a psychological battle given the fact that Super Falcons have a goal advantage ahead of the return leg at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium, in Tshwane, Pretoria.

“I think it’s going to be a really tough one for Banyana Banyana to try and bounce back simply because I think it becomes much more of a psychological game, knowing that maybe Nigeria has an upper hand or the advantage,” Dlamini told SABC Sports.

“But I think playing at home as well might also come to Banyana Banyana’s advantage. If it is that there’s a good turnout we might be able to pull this one off. Even though I think the coach might want to make a few changes, I think our starting 11 was quite a decent one maybe the approach would be a little bit different but I think much more than anything, I think it becomes much more of a psychological battle.”

The 35-year-old who has played at two Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) said the current crop of South Africa players have shown strong character when locking horns with the nine-time African champions, Nigeria.

“It wasn’t a huge score margin and it just simple says that Banyana Banyana has indeed closed the gap between the score lines of previous years against Nigeria but also they’re African champs,” she continued.

“They have much more of the bad experience and I think the days in between will give them a good turnaround time to try and salvage something. I’m very positive of the fact that we can still salvage something and qualify for the Olympic Games.”

Banyana Banyana is looking to qualify for the Olympics for the second time after missing out on the last edition in Tokyo while Super Falcons hope to return to the women’s football event of the Olympics for the first time since 2008.