National Teams
Paris 2024 Qualifiers: Banyana plans for huge battle against Super Falcons in Pretoria
By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde
The South African senior women’s national team, Banyana Banyana, faced disappointment in their recent match against Nigeria as Rasheedat Ajibade’s first-half penalty secured a victory for the Super Falcons, ending South Africa’s winning streak against the record African champions.
Banyana Banyana had hoped to replicate their previous success against the Super Falcons, either by securing a win as they did two years ago in Lagos or by earning a draw in Friday’s first-leg match of the Olympic qualifier in Abuja. However, the Super Falcons’ victory marked their first win over Banyana Banyana in 90 minutes since 2016.
Despite a strong second-half performance from the African champions, they were unable to convert their chances into goals, with goalkeeper Kaylin Swart making crucial saves to prevent further goals for the hosts.
Coach Desiree Ellis remains optimistic about their chances in the second leg at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Tuesday, believing they can overturn the deficit. She praised her team’s efforts and resilience, expressing pride in their performance and determination to bounce back in the next match.
Banyana Banyana will return to Johannesburg on Saturday morning, while the Super Falcons will depart from Lagos on Sunday night for the second leg.
The outcome of the two-legged qualifiers between South Africa and Nigeria will determine which team advances to the group stage of the women’s football event at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
The winner will join world champions Spain, 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup winners Japan, and Copa America Femenina champions Brazil in the group stage, highlighting the significance of the upcoming match for both teams.
The two African giants will lock horns for the second leg on Tuesday at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria where coach Desiree Ellis’ charges will be hoping to overturn the deficit.
“Look, we said it was going to be a tight game but we are hopeful of overturning this result in the second leg,” she said.
“We are still in the game. We created a couple of chances, and a penalty decided the match but the game was 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.”
Banyana will fly back to Pretoria on Sunday morning while the Super Falcons will fly out of Lagos on Sunday night.
World champions, Spain, 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup winners Japan, and Copa America Femenina champions, Brazil await the winner of the two-legged qualifiers between South Africa and Nigeria in the group stage of the women’s football event of the Paris 2024 Olympics.
