Banyana Banyana head coach, Desiree Ellis, says their failure to qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games is a setback to women’s football in South Africa.

Banyana Banyana were held to a goalless draw against Nigeria’s Super Falcons on Tuesday night at Loftus Stadium.

The result was enough to see the Falcons through having won the first leg in Abuja 1-0.

“It’s a big disappointment not just for us but for everyone involved in women’s football, because we didn’t go in 2020, we were in a similar situation where we had so many chances to – but didn’t go to the next round,” a visibly disappointed Ellis said in her post-match.

“Likewise we didn’t go to the Olympics because of this, it will take a while to recover from this though.”

Also Read: Sports Minister Salutes Super Falcons For Securing Olympics Ticket

It remains to be seen if Ellis will continue as Banyana Banyana head coach.

Ellis led her side to a first-ever African Cup of Nations title in 2022.

Also, she led the team to the round of 16 at the 2023 FIFA women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

For the Falcons it is a return to the Olympics after a 16-year absence.

The last time the nine-time African champions featured at the games was in Beijing 2008.

They will now take on reigning world champions Spain, former World Cup winners Japan and Brazil in Group C.

Under the tutelage of the late Ismailia Mabo, the Falcons reached the quarter-finals at the Athens 2004 Olympic, which is Africa’s best performance at the games.

Meanwhile, Africa will also be represented by Zambia who defeated Morocco 2-0 away also on Tuesday.

The Zambians went into the game on the back of a 2-1 home defeat against the Moroccans.

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