Paris 2024: Desiree Ellis issues warning to Super Falcons ahead of Olympic qualifiers return leg

The Banyana Banyana of South Africa head coach Desiree Ellis has issued a stern warning to the Super Falcons of Nigeria, ahead of the second leg of the 2024 Olympic qualifiers on Tuesday, April 9.

Randy Waldrum’s Super Falcons defeated the Banyana Banyana 1-0 at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja on Friday, April 5, courtesy of captain Rasheedat Ajibade’s well-taken penalty kick in the first half.

Ellis’ Banyana Banyana were the better side in the second half, but Nigeria’s Chiamaka Nnadozie—the 2023 CAF women’s Goalkeeper of the Year—thwarted their attempts and made sure her side secured the one-goal advantage ahead of the second leg in Pretoria 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,” Ellis said.

“We are still in the game. We created a couple of chances, and 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 equalized.

“Maybe we could also have gotten a penalty at the end when Jermaine was fouled but I’m very proud of the team and we will take it back to Pretoria.”

The eventual winner between both African women’s football powerhouses will join Spain, Brazil and Japan in Group C of the Paris 2024 Olympics Games scheduled to take place in France from July 26 to August 11.