South Africa Coach Voices Concern Ahead of WAFCON Semi-Final Against Super Falcons
South Africa’s head coach, Desiree Ellis, has expressed concern over her team’s limited recovery time as they prepare to face Nigeria’s Super Falcons in the semi-finals of the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).
The defending champions, Banyana Banyana, endured a physically demanding quarter-final match on Saturday night, battling Senegal to a goalless draw over 120 minutes before triumphing 4-2 in a penalty shootout.
In contrast, Nigeria’s Super Falcons enjoyed an emphatic 5-0 win over Zambia’s Copper Queens a day earlier, giving them an additional day to rest and recover ahead of Tuesday’s high-stakes clash.
Speaking to Sowetan Live, Coach Ellis acknowledged the challenge of competing with less recovery time:
“We are going to prepare, but 120 minutes with a day less to rest and a travel day in between takes a lot.”
The much-anticipated semi-final, scheduled for 5:00 PM on Tuesday, will see two of Africa’s most successful women’s football teams battle it out for a place in the WAFCON final.
