As the crucial Olympic qualification showdown looms, Banyana Banyana head coach Desiree Ellis has issued a heartfelt plea to fans, urging them to pack the stadium and rally behind the team as they gear up to face Nigeria in the decisive second leg clash.
Nigeria holds a slender 1-0 advantage from the first leg played in Abuja, making the return fixture in South Africa a must-win encounter for the home side.
“I just have to make sure that we’re the first team to score.
We need to go for it and score, but we also need to be aware to not concede and make sure we score first to get the game back on even kill and then try and control it, which we did a lot in the second half.
But we should start the next game going like that,” emphasized Ellis, underlining the team’s strategy for the upcoming match.
Ellis stressed the significance of fan support in providing the much-needed energy and momentum for Banyana Banyana to overturn the deficit and secure their ticket to Paris 2024.
“It’s important we have a good crowd at Moebella, but I think the crowd needs to come out.
They need to show their support because we are going to need that 12th and 13th player.
We want the South African fans to really be that 12th and 13th player… It’s gonna be really, really important,
I urge the fans to come out in their numbers because we play for them…
We want to make sure you know that we do it for you because it’s gonna be that important that we have a packed-out stadium.”
Ellis’s impassioned call resonates with the team’s deep-rooted connection to their supporters, acknowledging the important role fans play in fueling their performance on the pitch.
With the prospect of a packed stadium at Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Banyana Banyana aims to harness the fervent support of their loyal fans to propel them to victory in what promises to be a thrilling encounter.
As anticipation builds for the decisive showdown, all eyes turn to the fans, whose unwavering presence and vocal support could prove to be the decisive factor in shaping the outcome of this crucial Olympic qualifier.
