By Lukanyo Tshitshi
Disheartened Banyana Banyana players following Tuesday's 0-0 draw against Nigeria at Loftus Versfeld Stadium.
Banyana Banyana’s dreams to participate among the world’s best women national teams in the Paris 2024 Olympics after missing out on the 2020 Olympics held in Japan are shattered following their 0-1 defeat on aggregate against Nigeria.
The 2022 African Champions hosted the Super Falcons on Tuesday night in the second leg of the CAF Women Olympic Qualifiers at Loftus Versfeld Stadium following the 1st leg encounter held in Nigeria last Friday that ended in favour of the Super Falcons, winning 1–0.
Coming into this game, the Ellis side was in high hopes, as they were hoping to overturn the scoreboard having an advantage of playing home, and hopefully clinch a win.
The head coach of Banyana Banyana, Desiree Ellis, talking to SABC Sport after the match at Loftus Versfeld, apologised to Banyana supporters who came out in numbers and expressed her disappointment, saying her team gave everything they had but unfortunately didn’t go their way.
“I think we gave everything we had today and unfortunately it wasn't the result we wanted,
“Very disappointed for the fans that came out in their numbers to support us, but I think the crowd in South Africa can be very proud of this team,” said Ellis.
“We might not be going to the Olympics, which is a huge disappointment, but we gave everything we had today,” she added.
Lebogang Ramalape, the Banyana right fullback who made her 100th international cap for South Africa it was a milestone celebration to forget.
Ramalape, who plays for Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies, added her name to the legion of 11 women who made 100 appearances for Banyana Banyana, such as her current captain Refiloe Jane, Amanda Dlamini, Portia Modise, and her fellow teammate Jermaine Seaposenwe.
Expressing her disappointment for failing to qualify for the Olympics for the second consecutive time, the 32-year-old fullback said she is disappointed by the results but she believes that the team did well.
“I think today we really did well. We put in a good shift, We were compact at the back. They couldn't penetrate,
“I think the girls have done really well today,” said Ramalape.
After this fall, Banyana will be looking to dust off themselves and focus on the next task, which is WAFCON.
“Well, I think a lot of us will go back and sit down and, you know, the next window is only in May,
“We will sit down, end of May, we will sit down and look at the way forward. We're hoping that the Wefcon can still happen this year because then there's something to play for,” she said.
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