Banyana Coach Ellis Backs Falcons For WAFCON Final

Banyana Banyana of South Africa coach, Desiree Ellis has extended a prayer for best of luck to the Super Falcons of Nigeria, as they prepare to tango hosts Morocco in the WAFCON 2024 final on Saturday.

Sports247 reports that, though Ellis admitted she felt bad with her team’s last gasp loss to Nigeria in a nerve-wracking semi-final clash on Tuesday, her sporting mentality still exuded the best of wishes for her team’s conquerors.

However, Ellis started by giving thumbs up to her players, who she praised for taking Nigeria to the limit, only to concede a freak goal in six minutes of time added to the full duration of 90, few days after they had to play into extra time before beating Senegal on penalties.

Ellis analysed, “We didn’t look like a team that went 120 (minutes in our previous game). We went toe-to-toe (with Nigeria), and we gave them as good as they gave us.

“The way we moved the ball around was pure joy. We had them chasing shadows. I don’t think we deserved to lose, but we didn’t take our chances.”

The long-serving Banyana gaffer then pinpointed some factors that accounted for her team’s 2-1 loss to the nine-time champs, tops of which she admitted was the inability of her players to convert goal scoring chances that came their way.

“If we had taken our chances, I think we would be speaking differently now. But, unfortunately, they got the two goals … and that’s what football is about.

“If you score more goals than the other team, you get the victory … but I’m really proud of my team,” Ellis reiterated.

She then submitted with a word of regret about a nasty injury copped by one of South Africa’s top stars, Gabriela Salgado, the sight of which Ellis noted her players could not quickly recover from.

“After that injury, it took a while for us to get going again and, I think, maybe that’s the reason why we conceded (the back-breaking goal) at the time it happened.

“All the same, big-up to Nigeria. They also kept going and good luck to them (in the final),” Ellis signed off with a deeply patronising tone.

Sports247.ng