After the dramatic WAFCON 2024 semi-final clash, Banyana Banyana head coach Desiree Ellis has opened up on why her team fell short against the Super Falcons of Nigeria.
Despite dominating some portions of the match and creating several chances, the South Africans couldn’t convert when it mattered most—something Ellis admits cost them dearly, Footballrover reports.
Falcons Capitalise as Banyana Banyana Waste Chances
The 2024 WAFCON witnessed another thrilling moment as the defending champions Banyana were edged out 2-1 by Nigeria’s Falcons on Tuesday night.
Nigeria struck first through Rasheedat Ajibade, who calmly slotted home a penalty just before halftime.
South Africa responded in the second half, with Linda Motlhalo converting a spot kick to level the score. However, the momentum didn’t last.
Despite pressing for a winner, South Africa failed to convert their chances—a weakness the Falcons ruthlessly exploited.
Michelle Alozie’s late goal sealed Nigeria’s place in the final and left Ellis’ team heartbroken.
Desiree Ellis: “We Could Have Won the Game”
After the match, Desiree Ellis didn’t hold back. The experienced coach expressed frustration at the missed opportunities that robbed South Africa of a shot at retaining their title.
— “We wanted to win. If we had taken our chances, we could have won the game,” the coach said at the post-match presser.
Ellis admitted the team’s desire was strong, but execution fell short. The Super Falcons showed resilience, defending solidly and taking their chances when it counted.
What that means now is that Banyana Banyana will have to regroup as they prepare to face Ghana’s Black Queens in the third-place match on Friday.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian female team will meet host nation Morocco in a mouth-watering final.
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