South Africa Coach Reacts to Defeat to Nigeria: “It’s Only Halftime”

Desiree Ellis, coach of South Africa’s female national football team, Bayana Bayana, has described their 0-1 loss to the Super Falcons of Nigeria as “just half time”.

Ellis said the first leg of the final Round of Paris 2024 Olympic qualifiers at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, Friday night was only a half time, with plenty to play for in the return leg in South Africa.

A penalty converted by captain Rasheedat Ajibade in the 42nd minute was enough to separate both sides.

At the end of the game, Ellis lauded his team’s efforts reiterating that a game against Nigeria would never be an easy one.

“We knew it was going to be a tight game. We lost a couple of chances and the penalty decided the game. The game is not over but I am very proud of the team.

“We need to have a look at the video footage and see where we can exploit because I thought that defensively we were very sound up until that penalty, we created a couple of chances.

“We also have lots of players coming from injury and not playing out 90 minutes. They will be better in the second leg.

“So for us, it’s just half time, we will be better in the next half,” she said.

Attention has immediately shifted to Tuesday’s return leg at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria.

The Banyana Banyana flew back to Johannesburg on Saturday while the Super Falcons will fly out of Lagos to South Africa on Sunday night. (NAN)