BANYANA Banyana of South Africa head coach Desiree Ellis has giving an insight into why they arrived in Abuja five days before their Paris 2024 Olympics women’s football event qualifying tie first leg against the Super Falcons of Nigeria.
The Women’s Africa Cup of Nations holders landed in Abuja on Sunday for Friday’s encounter with 17 players, with their stars based abroad joining later.
Ellis explained that the decision to travel early to Nigeria was to help the team acclimatise to the weather conditions in Abuja as they are different from what contains back in South Africa.
While the average temperature across Nigeria is currently above 30 degrees, it is much colder in South Africa at the moment, some places as low as 21 degrees.
Ellis travelled with the 17 home-based players after a week of preparations in a camp that took place in Pretoria.
Refiloe Jane, Noko Matlou and Jermaine Seoposenwe are the three overseas-based players who have joined up with the team in Abuja, while Hildah Magaia, Thembi Kgatlana, Linda Mothlalo and Sinoxolo Cesane are yet to arrive in the Nigerian capital.
The team was received by the South African Embassy in Abuja and Lindi Mnimela delivered their best wishes on behalf of South African High Commissioner, Thami Mseleku.
“On behalf of High Commissioner Thami Mseleku, we are here to welcome you. He is the one who sent us here to give you a warm welcome. We have been waiting for the team for hours, patiently so because we were looking forward to having this privilege and honour of seeing each and every of you,” said Mnimela.
“I know you are all tired from the trip and we just wanted to wish you the best for the game on Friday. We are looking forward to it with our vuvuzelas ready and we have no doubt that you are going to win this.”
The team had their first official training session yesterday afternoon and will continue with preparations until Thursday.
The Super Falcons have also begun training in Abuja and are expecting some key players to complete the squad today.
