2024 Olympic Qualifiers: We can’t toy with Super Falcons Ellis warns

Ahead of two legged clash with Super Falcons of Nigeria in the quest for  Olympic ticket, Banyana Banyana coach Desiree Ellis has told his girls to offer 100% concentration in the double header. Describing the Nigerian side as a quality team, award winning Ellis insists that the girls from the Rainbow nation must resist the temptation to blink during the encounters especially the first leg that will be played in Abuja.

In a chat with SABC Sports, Ellis said there is need to  put everything  into the fixture to ensure they mark their third appearance at the Olympics after that of 2012 and 2016 in London and Rio respectively.

“I think the first leg is going to be key and important for us to get a good result there to take the pressure off coming home because they [Nigeria] are a quality team. There are no two ways about it,” Elis told SABC Sports.

Banyana Banyana coach Desiree Ellis.

“We cannot take it likely. We know that if we don’t concentrate for the full 90 minutes, we will get punished.

“If you don’t take your chances, they might get one and put it away. We have to make sure we outscore them and don’t concede. We are going to create chances no matter the team we play but have to convert them.

Banyana will travel to Nigeria for the first leg on Friday, April 5, before hosting the Super Falcons in the reverse fixture at the Loftus Versfeld, Stadium in Pretoria on Tuesday, April 9.