The Sasol-sponsored Banyana Banyana believe it’s not over yet in their 2024 Paris Olympic qualifier against Nigeria where they lost 1-0 in the away first leg played in Abuja on Friday, 5 April.
Desiree Ellis’ charges conceded a penalty shortly before recess with Super Falcons captain Rasheedat Ajibade slotting home the winner from 12 yards.
In five Olympic qualifying matches, South Africa is yet to beat the West Africans, with four losses and one match drawn.
The first leg was the 19th clash between the two nations – Nigeria continue to dominate the tie, registering 14 wins to Banyana Banyana’s four victories. One match has been drawn.
South Africa and the Super Falcons will renew hostilities on Tuesday, 9 April at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria, with a 19h30 kick off.
Banyana Banyana are expected back home on Sunday, 07 April 2024.
HERE’S WHAT THEY SAID AFTER THE MATCH:
DESIREE ELLIS
About the match:
“I thought in the first half we didn’t play, we were too far apart and kept playing the long ball, they read it very well, had cover on Thembi (Kgatlana). But we went on the ball enough, we needed someone to put the foot on the ball. I thought the way we gave the penalty away we could have handled that situation better. Second half we came out, and we started playing, created a couple of chances but we just couldn’t get that equalizer. As we say, it’s half time, and we look forward to taking the game back to Pretoria.”
About the long grass:
I think it’s the same for both teams, but we are a ball-playing team, and it surely hindered us, especially in the first half, we couldn’t get going but in the second half we rectified things and started playing. We are going back to familiar surroundings, we thought they will cut the grass after our training session yesterday (Thursday, 4 April) but unfortunately that didn’t happen. We are not looking for any excuses you, we had chances to equalize.”
On turn-around time:
“Our recovery has got to be brilliant, has got to be excellent, everybody’s has to do the recovery protocols so that we recover really well and then go back because it’s very little time in between. We will obviously have a look at the footage and see how we can rectify things and how we can be better because we need to score, we need to go for it and score but we also need to be aware not concede and make sure that we score first to get the game back or even kill it, and try to control it which you did a lot in the second-half. In the next game we should start with the game going like that. The players were really up for it, they really went for it in the second half, unfortunately we didn’t get the goal the goal we wanted to take it back 1-1. Going to the Olympics is huge so you don’t need motivation to lift yourself up, you don’t need the motivation to change your mentality but it’s now up to us to take the game to them and make sure that we score but also make sure that we settled in the defense and make sure that we don’t concede because they don’t have to come at us, they can sit back. Honestly, it’s on us.
THEMBI KGATLANA
Impressions of the match:
In the first half we started a bit slow, and I think coming in the second half we were playing much better and I think that’s the positive that you need to take going back at home with familiar facilities and knowing what to do with in front of our fans.”
On the weather:
“The weather is extremely humid, but we can’t complain we have played in North Africa for many times, and I think we are just here for a week to adjust to the weather, so it did play a huge effect, but at the end of the day we had to come out and play our ball.
Banyana Banyana chance of qualifying:
“The good thing is it’s not a tournament, we’ve played one game now we need the other game. We know after the game in Pretoria whoever wins goes through. After today they are one zero up with advantage. There is no away goal rule, or so I also think that gives us so much confidence because we’re not chasing the game, we know that we just have to win with a better score.”
About the pitch:
“When we were training yesterday the calves were hot, even today during warm up. The fact that they didn’t cut the grass, and they know that we’re a team that moves the ball. That’s why I said in the earlier question that when we get home it is better facilities, we know that the pitch will favour us the same way the pitch here (Abuja) favoured them. They are not a team that plays the ball, they are a team that wants to run behind and that’s exactly what they choose to do. You drop the ball it doesn’t bounce it just lands on top, so that that’s what they wanted to do, and I think it worked for them, but we also have an advantage when we go home to play in better facilities.”
KAYLIN SWART
About the match:
“It’s just a little frustrating knowing that we gave so much in this game and to come out so short, obviously 1-nil is hard to take and yes there’s so much to play for in the second leg. I think if we can start the way we finish the second half I think there’s so much more to give, but we’re not down yet, that’s the beauty of the sport. We can still get back but it’s a little tough one to take.
On the slow start to the match:
“I don’t know if I can put it on one thing but I think we did start a little bit shaky and obviously that’s not the way we play, I think we’ll be very disappointed in ourselves tonight but I think if we can just work on a couple things, tweak the way we started the second-half and if we just go back to the drawing board I’m sure the coaches are pretty happy with what we came out with in the second-half. I still believe in my girls, I still think that we can turn it around at home and I just hope that the fans will come out and be behind us because I do think there’s so much more in the second leg and hopefully, we can get the goals we need.”
About the second leg:
“I think it’s just the belief in ourselves, I think we doubted that a little bit in the first half. I wouldn’t say that we didn’t start the way we wanted to, but we’ll just have to look at ourselves again and take what we did in the second half and use that as fuel for the duration of 90 minutes. I think the second leg is going to be tough but there’s just a lot of things we could have done better, finding the ball to our feet, keeping possession a little bit better. I think the coaches know exactly what’s needed and us as players we also will look at ourselves and hopefully, we’ll come back with a better individual performance.”
By Matlhomola Morake
