In a calculated maneuver ahead of their pivotal clash with Nigeria's Super Falcons, Banyana Banyana of South Africa have launched their campaign early, setting the stage for a monumental showdown in the final round of the 2024 Olympic Games qualifiers.
With only two teams representing the continent at the Women’s Football Event when the games begin in Paris this summer, it is clear that only one of the most successful teams in African Women’s football history will make it to France and rub shoulders with the rest of the world.
The Super Falcons – who recently dropped two places to 34th in the FIFA rankings but still maintained their place as the number one team on the continent – will battle for the sole ticket against the second-best team in Africa, a Banyana Banyana side now ranked 51st in the world.
The other ticket to the games will be contested by Zambia and Morocco with the winner playing in Group D alongside USA, Germany and Australia.
The winner between the Super Falcons and Banyana Banyana over two legs will play in Group C following the draw results. Group C houses the World champions Spain who will be making their debut at the Olympics, two-time Olympics silver medallists Brazil and London 2012 silver medallists Japan.
The run-in to the two key clashes billed for April 5 and 9 in Nigeria and South Africa respectively is gradually shaping up with preparations for both teams gathering its momentum.
With that being said, let's take a look at at three key reasons why the Banyana Banyana team has an edge over the Super Falcons over two legs.
Preparation has been a priority for Banyana Banyana
Touching down in Abuja well in advance, the South African squad, led by the astute coach Desiree Ellis, is leaving no aspect overlooked in their pursuit of Olympic redemption.
Emphasizing the importance of early arrival, Ellis stated, “The decision to travel early to Nigeria was intended to help the team acclimatize to the weather conditions in Abuja as they are different from the conditions at home.” This meticulous attention to detail underscores the team's commitment to thorough preparation.
The squad had opened its camp on Monday March 25 in Pretoria before the coach made her final selection, which witnessed a delay in announcement because Ellis insisted that she wanted to work on more combinations.
As the team gears up for the impending battle, the return of key players from past triumphs bolsters their ranks. Refiloe Jane, Noko Matlou and Jermaine Seoposenwe, instrumental in previous victories, stand poised to once again leave an indelible mark on the pitch, injecting a potent blend of experience and skill into the squad.
They have joined up with the 17 players that traveled down with the coach from their overseas base with Hildah Magaia, Thembi Kgatlana, Linda Mothlalo and Sinoxolo Cesane also expected to team up before the first leg.
The deliberate early acclimatization to Nigerian conditions underscore their commitment to seizing every advantage, signaling the team's readiness for the task at hand.
Mental strength with squad depth
Despite Nigeria's slight edge in head-to-head encounters, recent history suggests a shift in momentum, with Banyana Banyana emerging victorious in critical showdowns.
Notably, in the 2021 Aisha Buhari Invitational, Banyana Banyana secured a 4-2 victory in Lagos, with goals from Linda Motlhalo, Gabrielle Salgado, Mamello Makhabane, and an own goal by Michelle Alozie.
The last time the two teams met at full international level was the last Women's Africa Cup of Nations held in Morocco in 2022 with the South Africans winning the tie 2-1 in the group stages before they marched on to win their first WAFCON title by beating the hosts in the final.
Reflecting on these past encounters, goalkeeper Kaylin Swart affirmed, “Nigeria is a very tough place to go to, but we’ve had some success in that country. It’s going to be another tough battle, but we are ready for it,” epitomizing the team's resolve to face challenges head-on.
Swart added, “We are in season now (in the SA Super League), so I think we’ve improved a lot. Our teams have improved, and the level of individuality has improved,” accentuating the team's growth and self-assurance.
On the coach’s part, Ellis eventually opted to take 24 players instead of 23 and explained that she needs players that can change things in such a big game when there are issues.
“We have also decided to take 24 players instead of the 23 to make sure we have the players for every eventuality,” she told SAFA Media.
The team’s depth was also outlined in the final squad with the coach making seven changes to the squad that faced Tanzania in the third round of the qualifiers, a game they comfortably won 4-0 over two legs.
With the return of Bambanani Mbane, Refiloe Jane, Regirl Ngobeni, Sibulele Holweni, Tiisetso Makhubela, Bongeka Gamede and the addition of Nonhlanhla Mthandi, the depth in the squad and the team’s chemistry is remarkably visible with the outcomes in recent matches.
Coach Desire Ellis
Tasked with one of the toughest jobs – being the coach of a national team, Desire Ellis knows the pressure that usually comes with matters of national interest, expectations and dealing with critics. She’s one of the key reasons why South Africa have the advantage over two legs in the final qualifying round for the Olympics football event this summer.
Ellis has somehow found a way to thrive in this role and probably exceeded her expectations after leading her side to emerging as Africa's best in 2022 when her team won the Women's Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. That achievement was registered in between qualifying and playing in two World Cups consecutively, France 2019 and the other edition down under – Australia and New Zealand 2023.
The pragmatic coach has gone on to win multiple awards and she is the current best woman coach in Africa – an award she's won four times after wins in 2018, 2019, 2022 and 2023. She's tactically astute, reads the game well and has answers to almost every question thrown at her.
Since she took over from her predecessor Vera Pauw, under whom she served as an assistant between 2014 and 2016, the 61-year old has gone on to achieve a whole lot with the Banyana Banyana side.
She's made her team a force to reckon with on the continent and her troops heads into every game on the continent with a mindset that they are unstoppable, all thanks to a manager who has made herself the main talisman of a team that boasts of many star players that includes Thembi Kgatlana.
It will really be interesting to see how Ellis manages the matchup against Nigeria – a tie she's described as ‘the mother of all games'.
However, amidst the anticipation, a hint of overconfidence looms. The swagger born of past triumphs must be tempered with caution, for the Super Falcons pose a formidable challenge.
With Olympic qualification on the line, Banyana Banyana stand poised to etch another chapter in their storied legacy, ready to seize their moment of glory.
