Desiree Ellis, head coach of Banyana Banyana, expressed her disappointment after her team failed to secure a spot at the 2024 Olympic Games, following a goalless draw against the Super Falcons of Nigeria in the second leg of their fourth-round tie.
Nigeria emerged victorious with a narrow 1-0 aggregate scoreline, dashing South Africa’s hopes of Olympic qualification for the second consecutive time.
Ellis lamented her team’s inability to find the back of the net, acknowledging the urgency to score early in the match. She highlighted their struggles to break down Nigeria’s solid defense, emphasizing the need for an early breakthrough.
“We knew that coming into this game, we needed to score. We also knew that we needed to score as early as possible because the longer the game went on, the more desperate we would become,” Ellis remarked.
While Banyana altered their formation and made tactical adjustments, they couldn’t muster enough attacking momentum in the first half.
“But we didn’t go forward as much as we wanted in the first half. We made a couple of changes in the second half and threw the kitchen sink at them unfortunately, that elusive goal didn’t go in,” Ellis added.
Ellis commended her team for their effort and resilience, acknowledging the disappointment of both the team and their fans.
“And for that, we are very disappointed. We also know the fans are disappointed, but I think we can be very proud of this team. They gave it their best shot,” Ellis concluded.
As Banyana Banyana regroup and reflect on their journey, they can take pride in their determination and commitment, even in the face of adversity.
