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By Johnny Edward
South Africa coach, Desiree Ellis, has boldly declared that the race to qualify for the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament in Paris, France is not over yet despite her side trailing Nigeria 1-0 from the first leg, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Captain, Rasheedat Ajibade continued with her scoring form at club level when she put the Falcons ahead in the 43rd minute from the penalty spot after Chinwendu Ihezuo was fouled inside the box on her way to goal.
It was a deserved lead as the Super Falcons took the game to Banyana Banyana from the first whistle. Uchenna Kanu missed a glorious chance to make it 2-0 for Nigeria when she blazed the fine chance wide off target early in the second half.
Moments later, Ihezuo was denied a goal by a superb block with a foot by the South African goalkeeper, Kaylin Swart.
Falcons shot stopper Chiamaka Nnadozie was also forced to make two big saves in the 56th and 60th minute to maintain her clean sheet.
Nigeria continued to chase a second goal, but they were either denied by the impressive Banyana Banyana goalkeeper Swart.
Speaking after the game, Ellis said, “Look, I said before the game, it was going to be a tight game. We said that the result over two legs will be what matters.
“We feel we’re still in the game, we created a couple of chances. A penalty decided the match but the tie is not over. I thought in the second half we raised our game a lot, created a few chances.
“We could have equalised and maybe won a penalty at the end. But I’m proud of the team. And we’ll take it back. To Pretoria.
The reigning African champions managed the first leg encounter playing under difficult conditions and will now fancy their chances on the high altitude of Pretoria next Tuesday according to Ellis.
“Obviously, going to have a look at the footage and see where we can exploit the Falcons in the second leg. Because I thought defensively, we were really sound. And up until that moment from the penalty, we created a couple of chances. We also had a lot of players coming back from injury.
Not having played 90 minutes. And I thought we got a lot out of them. So they are better in their legs now and be better in the second leg. But as Tembi Kagtlana said, for us, it’s half time. We still have another half to go.”