Banyana go down to Nigeria in Olympic first-leg qualifier

Banyana Banyana will have to give it all in the second leg of the CAF Women’s Olympic qualifier after going down 1-0 to the Super Falcons of Nigeria in the first leg on Friday at the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abuja.

The visitors had a slow start with the hosts dominating the first half and doing most of the attacking.

The constant pressure finally paid off in the 43rd minute when defender Noko Matlou committed a foul inside the box and the Falcons were awarded a penalty.

Rasheedat Ajibade made no mistake converting from the spot as Banyana Banyana went to the break trailing by that solitary strike.

Watch moment Rasheedat Ajibade put the Nigerian Super Falcons ahead of the Banyana Banyana of South Africa.
📱#SoarSuperFalcons| #NGARSA| #CAFWCQ| #Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/3UX2hogJyS

— Oyibo of Abuja (@oyiboediri) April 5, 2024

Banyana Banyana came back from the break a much more improved side but failed to convert the few chances that came their way.

Outstanding goalkeeper Kaylin Swart had to work overtime to deny the hosts from extending their lead.

Despite creating numerous chances for an equaliser, the game ended 1-0 for the Super Falcons.

Full-time!

A defeat in the first leg in Abuja, Nigeria.

🇳🇬1️⃣➖0️⃣🇿🇦#LiveTheImpossible #NotDoneYet pic.twitter.com/UzkdMnvE9c

— Banyana_Banyana (@Banyana_Banyana) April 5, 2024

The two African giants will lock horns for the second leg on 9 April  at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria where coach Desiree Ellis’s charges will be hoping to overturn the deficit.

And coach Ellis believes they are still in the game and can turn things around in the second leg on Tuesday.

“Look, we said it was going to be a tight game but we are hopeful of overturning this result in the second leg.”

“We are still in the game. We created a couple of chances, a penalty decided the match but the game is not over. I thought in the second half we raised our game a lot and created good chances and could have equalised. Maybe we could also have gotten a penalty at the end when Jermaine (Seoposenwe) was fouled but I’m very proud of the team and we will take it back to Pretoria,” said Ellis.

© SAFA