Olympic Qualifier: Banyana Coach Strategizes for Defeating the Falcons
Banyana Banyana's head coach, Desiree Ellis, plans to utilize both home advantage and altitude to her team’s advantage as they gear up to take on Nigeria’s Super Falcons in a pivotal Olympic qualifier.
The initial match is set to take place at Nigeria’s Moshood Abiola National Stadium on April 5, followed by the return leg at Loftus Stadium in South Africa four days later.
In an interview with SABC Sport, the former Banyana Banyana captain underscored the strategic significance of Loftus Stadium's high altitude, while citing the team's recent success at the Aisha Buhari Cup in 2023 as a pivotal moment.
Additionally, the 61-year-old coach recognized the importance of the forthcoming matches against the Super Falcons, emphasizing the 'winner takes all' nature of the doubleheader.
Desiree Ellis stated, "We've considered the altitude; we need to capitalize on it, particularly in the first 15 to 20 minutes of the game, and hopefully, it can work to our advantage."
"I believe our major turning point was the Aisha Buhari Cup, despite some key players being unavailable for that match. However, our performance instilled belief in us, demonstrating that this team fears no one.
"We are all aware of the significance of this match, especially considering our absence from the 2020 Olympics, similar to Nigeria. Now, it comes down to who desires it the most."
Both teams are eager to secure qualification for the Olympics. South Africa, the reigning African champions, were absent from the last edition in Tokyo.
In contrast, the Super Falcons have not participated in the Games for 16 years, with their last appearance dating back to the Beijing Olympics in 2008.
The victor of this clash will join world champions Spain, Brazil, and Japan in the same group in Paris.
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