South Africa’s Bayana Bayana coach Desiree Ellis said Friday’s first leg Olympic qualifier against Nigeria’s Super Falcons is like a boxing match where the winner must deliver a knockout punch.
The Bayana Bayana are up against the Super Falcons who are determined to play in their first Olympics since 2008 and they are hoping to cause some upsets at the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja and hold out in the second leg next week in Pretoria.
“It’s like you are in the last round of a boxing match, a 12-round fight, where the winner succeeds and the loser goes home,” Ellis said.
“Nigeria are still one of the best teams on the continent. We know how big the game is. We don’t need to motivate the players, but we are excited.
“We need to get a positive result to take the pressure off us, coming home in the second leg.”
Meanwhile Super Falcons attacking midfielder, Rasheedat Ajibade said the team is yearning to be at the Olympics and would leave no stone in turn to finish the job they have started.
“From the time we played Ethiopia, we have been committed to seeing these qualification series through. Our objective has always been to win a slot to the Olympics. Most of us are yet to play in the Olympics and it is a big issue with us. We want to be there in Paris.
“There are a couple of issues the Super Falcons have to sort out with Banyana Banyana, really. However, that is not the motivation this time. The motivation is qualifying for the Olympics.”
The winners of the tie will take the last spot in Group C in Paris, alongside Spain, Japan and Brazil.
Meanwhile, Zambia face Morocco for a place in Group B, where the victors will face the United States, Germany and Australia.
