Banyana Banyana forward Thembi Kgatlana says their 1-0 loss to Nigeria in Friday’s Women’s Olympic Qualifying CAF first leg in Abuja puts them in a position to qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympics at the expense of the Super Falcons, Primanews Sports Extra reports.
Speaking profound confidence after the keenly contested tie inside Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Kgatlana said they will go all out for a win in the second leg in Pretoria on Tuesday to seal qualification for the women’s football event of the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Captain Rasheedat Ajibade’s first-half penalty goal separated both sides, giving Randy Waldrum’s team a slim advantage and bragging rights ahead of the potentially explosive reverse tie.
Reacting to the defeat, Kgatlana blamed Banyana Banyana’s slow start but asserted that the African champions will turn the table around in the reverse fixture.
“No, we just didn’t move the ball around as quickly as we wanted to in the first leg,” Kgatlana said.
“It’s always been a competition between Nigeria and South Africa, so it’s not pressure.
“I think it couldn’t have been a better final to qualify for the Olympics.
“We’ve been preparing, and there’s still one more leg. And I know that in the Olympic qualifiers, there’s no away goal rule.So right now, it’s 1-0 for Nigeria, and they still have to come to South Africa. So I think at the end, the end result is on Tuesday.”
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