Coach Desiree Ellis has revealed the tactics she deployed in Banyana Banyan’s opening 2-1 victory over champions Super Falcons at the ongoing 2022 Women’s African Cup of Nations in Rabat, Morocco, The PUNCH reports.
Second-half goals from Jermaine Seoposenwe and Hilda Magaia in two minutes handed the South Africans their fourth-ever win over the Falcons, with Rasheedat Ajibade grabbing a consolatory goal for the Nigerians in added time.
It’s Banyana’s second consecutive win over the Falcons, and their third in their last four meetings. They defeated the Falcons 4-2 at the Aisha Buhari Cup in Lagos last year and at the 2018 WAFCON.
It was nine-time champions Falcons’ sixth defeat at the WAFCON in 56 matches.
Ellis, who masterminded Banyana’s consecutive wins over the Falcons, said her side forced the Falcons to play long balls with their pressing form of attack.
“We forced them to play long balls and we knew we can force them to make mistakes at the back which they did, the players delivered our plans,” Ellis said.
South Africa will face Burundi in their next game on Thursday and Ellis admits Banyana must focus on their objective for the tournament.
“We have to focus, we are done with this (Nigerian) game and we have to focus on our objectives for the tournament.”
The Banyana are currently second in Group C, behind leaders Botswana despite being on same three points.
The Falcons, who are third with no points, just as bottom-place Burundi, play Botswana next on Thursday.
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