Thembi Kgatlana, captain of the South Africa women’s team, Banyana Banyana, has expressed confidence ahead of their second leg Olympic qualifier against Nigeria.
Despite trailing 1-0 from the first leg, Kgatlana believes her team holds an advantage as they prepare to host the Falcons in the upcoming fixture.
Speaking ahead of the crucial match, Kgatlana highlighted the familiarity of the facilities and surroundings for her team, emphasizing that playing at home provides them with a significant edge.
She also pointed out that South Africa managed to avoid defeat in regular time during the previous encounter with Nigeria.
“For us, the first advantage is playing at home.
We are familiar with the facilities and everything around us,” Kgatlana stated, acknowledging the importance of home-field advantage in such crucial fixtures.
She further noted that the narrow margin of defeat in the first leg, which came from a set-piece rather than open play, indicates areas where South Africa can improve.
“As we prepare for the second leg, we need to revisit our tactics and make necessary adjustments to change the course of the game,” Kgatlana explained, underlining the team’s focus on tactical analysis and strategic planning to overcome their opponents and secure qualification for the summer Olympics.
With the stage set for an intense battle between South Africa and Nigeria, Kgatlana’s confidence and determination epitomize Banyana Banyana’s resolve to overturn the deficit and book their ticket to the prestigious Olympic Games.
