The pressure is on Banyana Banyana ahead of the return-leg in the fourth and final round of Olympic qualifiers against Nigeria.

On Friday night the Super Falcons gave themselves a big advantage with a 1-0 win against South Africa in Abuja.

The first leg was always going to be tough for South Africa playing away, but being able to contest the second leg at home is also a big advantage in its own right.

Nigeria won the game courtesy of a 43rd minute penalty by Rasheedat Ajibade.

This means that the champions of Africa will have to win at least 2-0 in Pretoria on Tuesday in order to ensure that they qualify for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

The Banyana coach, Desiree Ellis, said it is not all doom-and-gloom, and they will just have to be better on Tuesday.

“We said it was going to be a tight game but we are hopeful of overturning this result in the second leg,” said Ellis.

“We are still in the game - we created a couple of chances, a penalty decided the match but the game is not over.

“I thought in the second half we raised our game a lot and created good chances and could have equalised. Maybe we could also have gotten a penalty at the end when Jermaine Seoposenwe was fouled but I’m very proud of the team and we will take it back to Pretoria.”

Tuesday night’s return leg at Loftus Versfeld will kick-off at 19:30

Morgan Piek OFM Sport