Olympics Qualifier: Beating is a tough battle we must win –Coach Ellis
South Africa coach Desiree Ellis has warned a "tough battle" awaits when her side faces Nigeria in a heavyweight match in the final round of qualifiers for the women's football tournament at the 2024 Olympic Games.
Nigeria, the most successful side in Africa, hosts the reigning continental champions in Abuja on Friday, with the return leg in Pretoria four days later.
South Africa beat the Super Falcons en route to winning the Women's Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) title in 2022, and now the countries meet again for a ticket to Paris.
"It's like you are in the last round of a boxing match, a 12-round fight, where the winner succeeds and the loser goes home," Ellis said.
"Nigeria are still one of the best teams on the continent. We know how big the game is. We don't need to motivate the players, but we are excited.
"We need to get a positive result to take the pressure off us, coming home in the second leg."
Both countries reached the last 16 of the Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand last year, and Nigeria, at 36th in the world, are ranked 15 places above South Africa.
Banyana Banyana are aiming to qualify for the Games for the third time, after appearing in 2012 and 2016, while Nigeria are seeking a return to the Olympics for the first time since 2008.
After their maiden Women's Nations Cup triumph was followed by becoming the first senior South African side to reach the World Cup knockout stages, Ellis is keen for her group of players to keep achieving.
"Having missed out [on the Olympics] in 2020, won the Wafcon, and gone to the last 16 of the World Cup, this is one of the boxes as a group we haven't ticked," Ellis added.
The winners of the tie will take the last spot in Group C in Paris, alongside Spain, Japan, and Brazil.
Meanwhile, Zambia faces Morocco for a place in Group B, where the victors will face the United States, Germany, and Australia.
Ellis expects Nigeria's "passionate" fans will create a "hostile environment" in Abuja on Friday
South Africa made the final round of qualifying after beating DR Congo and Tanzania, in October and February respectively.
Ellis' side played both first legs away from home, drawing 1-1 against DR Congo and winning 3-0 against Tanzania, and believes it will be crucial to record another positive result in Nigeria.
"At the beginning, it was a struggle because we had many players missing," she added.
"In February, against Tanzania, I thought we were excellent away, which allowed us to make a couple of changes [in the second leg].
"In most matches, we have played away we have achieved positive results, which has taken the pressure off."
Ellis, the reigning African Women's Coach of the Year, is also keen for South Africa fans to come out in force in the second leg in Pretoria next week.
"When we play away the stadiums are packed and we are playing against the 12th and 13th players," she explained.
"The [South African] people urged us to bring the games close to them and we have done that. Let us not be outnumbered in the stands.
"When the game is [in a] lull but the fans are singing, that lifts your spirit."
