Banyana Banyana of South Africa head coach, Desiree Ellis has called on the home fans to fill up the Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria when they host the Super Falcons of Nigeria in their 2024 Olympic Games qualifier.
Ellis’ side will face the Super Falcons in a two-legged contest early next month.
The overall winner is guaranteed a place in the women’s football event at the 2024 Olympic Games.
Banyana Banyana will confront Nigeria in the first leg at the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja on Friday, April 5 before hosting the second leg four days later.
Ellis reckoned that having a full-capacity stadium would work in her side’s favour.
“I think it is important we have a huge crowd. The crowd needs to come out,” Ellis told SABC Sports.
“They [fans] need to show their support because we will need that 12th and 13th player. We don’t want the stadium filled with Nigerians with all due respect.
“We want the South African fans to really be the 12th and 13th players. That happened at the COSAFA Cup and we have seen what that has done to the team.
“We urged fans to come out in their numbers. It is going to be really important and obviously playing in an away country, we know how passionate they are about football.”
Paris 2024 Qualifiers: South Africa coach banks on home support to stop Super Falcons
