Desiree Ellis: Banyana Banyana face ‘no margin for error’ against Nigeria

South Africa head coach Desiree Ellis says Banyana Banyana understand the scale of their 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifying play-off against Nigeria and must deliver a near-perfect performance to keep their hopes alive.

The two highest-ranked teams in African women’s football will meet at the Moulay Rachid Stadium in Casablanca on Thursday, with a place in the inter-continental play-offs at stake.

Both sides had been expected to challenge for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title in Morocco, but their campaigns ended in the quarter-finals. South Africa were beaten by Burkina Faso, while Nigeria lost to Malawi, who are appearing at the tournament for the first time and have since reached the final.

Those results ended both teams’ hopes of winning the continental competition and also denied them automatic qualification for next year’s Women’s World Cup.

The match in Casablanca therefore represents another route towards the finals. South Africa and Nigeria are competing for one of the two African places in the inter-continental play-offs for Brazil, which will be held later this year.

Ellis, whose Banyana Banyana side won the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, acknowledged that the stakes were not what either team had wanted at this stage of the tournament. However, she believes the disappointment of their quarter-final defeat can provide extra motivation.

“Look, it’s not the place we want to be, but we’ve been given another opportunity – a very big opportunity – to go on a very long journey,” said Ellis.

South Africa must now respond quickly after their setback against Burkina Faso, with Ellis warning that they cannot afford another below-par display.

“But we obviously have to bring our A game. There’s no margin for error. You know the disappointment of losing the previous game is going to probably drive us to get a positive result.”

The fixture brings together two of the continent’s most successful national teams, although neither will now be able to progress directly to the World Cup through the WAFCON route.

Ellis said the importance of the occasion was clear to both squads and expected the Super Falcons to approach the game with the same urgency as Banyana Banyana.

“It’s not going to be an easy game. The two big guns of African football not where we want to be, and it’s one of us not going further ahead to qualify for the World Cup. So it’s a big game for us we know how big it is, the players know how big it is.

“I’m sure Nigeria knows how big it is but we just have to do what we have to do. We just have to execute our plans and make sure that we are victorious at the end of the day.”

The winner will remain in contention for a place at the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup, while the losing side’s hopes of reaching the tournament will be significantly damaged.