Ellis hopes home advantage gives Banyana edge in crucial Olympic qualifier against Nigeria
It’s an all-or-nothing encounter, where the winner will book their place at the Paris Games in July while the loser will have to settle for watching from the comfort of home.
Nigeria beat Banyana Banyana 1-0 in an Olympic qualifying match in Abuja, Nigeria on 5 April 2024. Picture: @Banyana_Banyana/X
JOHANNESBURG - Banyana Banyana have a massive day ahead of them when they play Nigeria in their Olympic qualifier on Tuesday evening.
It’s an all-or-nothing encounter, where the winner will book their place at the Paris Games in July while the loser will have to settle for watching from the comfort of home.
The task ahead is not impossible, but was made a little more difficult after the Super Falcons won the first leg 1-0 on Friday.
Banyana must win by at least two goals to make it through as one of the two African teams that will represent the continent at the event and coach Desiree Ellis says they can’t take any half-measures in Tuesday night’s match.
"It’s going to be a game where we’re going to have to leave everything out on the pitch. We want to be on that plane and we want to make sure we get the result," said Ellis.
Tuesday night’s fixture is at Loftus Versfeld, where Ellis hopes that the altitude factor and the pristine playing surface will help them have an advantage. Banyana have added confidence playing at home, where over the last two years, they’ve lost only three games – two against Brazil and to Malawi in a Cosafa Cup, with an understrength side.
"Playing at home, we’ve shown at home that we can score goals. But we’re coming up against a formidable opponent. They’ve been there and done it all and they also have a one-goal lead, so we have to throw caution to the wind," Ellis.
Kick-off at Loftus Versfeld is at 19:30 and the game will be broadcast live on SABC 3 and on SuperSport.